1956 Map of Central Park

About this map

Central Park serves as the literal and figurative centerpiece of this mid-century New York survey, anchoring a landscape of dense urbanization spanning from the New Jersey The Palisades to the western edge of Queens. The map illustrates a city in its post-war peak, where massive infrastructure projects like the George Washington Bridge and Triborough Bridge connect the boroughs. Educational and cultural institutions are densely concentrated, including Columbia University, Fordham University, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On the East River, Blackwells Island (Welfare Island) and Wards Island stand in contrast to the residential grids of Astoria and Mott Haven. The map also details the complex rail network of the era, featuring the New York Central and New York Connecting lines that linked the industrial waterfronts of Long Island City to the mainland.