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Open House New York (New York, NY): 8 October 2006

Click on the image to open a larger version. All images are Copyright © Mike Hume 2006.


Open House New York October 2006

Open House New York is a relatively new initiative which is very similar to the Doors Open Day events staged throughout much of the UK. I visited a handful of some of the more peculiar places normally closed to the public...

St George Hall
St George Hall
Washington On Wall St
Washington On Wall St

Brooklyn Soldiers And Sailors Memorial Arch

The Soldiers' And Sailors' Memorial Arch in Brooklyn was completed in 1892 to honour those who fell in the Civil War. It forms the gateway grand entrance to Prospect Park. The entire plaza around the arch was designed to emulate the Arc de Triomphe. There is an urban legend that there is a small theater inside the arch - this is true as can be seen from the photo below. It's actually a puppet theater and at least 100 puppets are stored in the Memorial Arch!

Chariot Detail
Chariot Detail
General View
General View
Grand Army Plaza Fountain
Grand Army Plaza Fountain
Panoramic View West
Panoramic View West
Puppet Theater
Puppet Theater
Spiral Staircase
Spiral Staircase
Stairway Detail
Stairway Detail
Top View
Top View
View Over Prospect Park
View Over Prospect Park

Federal Hall

Federal Hall is where George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States. Federal Hall was the first capitol of the United States. The original Federal Hall was actually demolished to make way for the present structure which was the first United States Customs House.

Dome Detail
Dome Detail
Eagle 1
Eagle 1
Eagle 2
Eagle 2
General View
General View
Interior View
Interior View
Oath Stone
Oath Stone
Stone Detail
Stone Detail
View From Behind Eagle
View From Behind Eagle
View From Gallery
View From Gallery

Highbridge Water Tower

The Highbridge Tower was built in 1872 as part of the Croton Aqueduct system where water flowed from Westchester County to reservoirs downtown. The tower stands on elevated parkland in Harlem (now playing fields and an outdoor swimming pool remarkably reminiscent of Portobello Outdoor Swimming Pool). The tower's picturesque design hid its real purpose as a pressure equalizer.

Highbridge Aqueduct
Highbridge Aqueduct
Highbridge Water Tower 1
Highbridge Water Tower 1
Highbridge Water Tower 2
Highbridge Water Tower 2
View To Downtown
View To Downtown

Prince George Ballroom

One of old midtown's grand gathering spaces (located at 15 East 27th Street), the newly-restored gallery and neo-Renaissance ballroom offer a glimpse into NYC's past.

Column
Column
General View 1
General View 1
General View 2
General View 2
Pillar
Pillar

St George Theater

The St George Theatre was Staten Island's premier theatre however fell victim to the general lack of theater-going in the latter half of the 20th Century. It has been restored to some extent. Fabulous Spanish-inspired murals adorn the Lobby and detailed plasterwork is all around the Lobby and Auditorium.

Auditorium View 1
Auditorium View 1
Auditorium View 2
Auditorium View 2
Auditorium View 3
Auditorium View 3
Ceiling Dome
Ceiling Dome
Lobby
Lobby
Mezzanine Bar
Mezzanine Bar
Mezzanine View
Mezzanine View

United Nations
Main Building
Main Building
Sculpture 1
Sculpture 1
Sculpture 2
Sculpture 2
Sculpture 3
Sculpture 3