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New York City’s 42nd Street

United States » New York City

Tour Creator

Adrienne Cooper

Adrienne has been a licensed New York City Tourist Guide since 2012, and it runs in the family. Her NYC-loving mother moved into town as a teen and has been…Read More Bio »

Tour Type:

Architecture

Historical

Urban

New York City

GPS-directed

Remote Tour Included

2hrs

2km

Our tour will take you to see some of the most decorated and historic locations in New York City, including the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, The Chrysler Building and the stunning Grand Central Terminal. You’ll get to see 2 of the most perfect examples of Beaux Arts design that New York has to offer, learn about the literary legend who inspired a city to embrace our parks, decide whether New York’s first monument to a woman was the muse for that famous Friends opening. Go beyond Times Square and get to the heart of midtown, with your gilded pinkies in the air, cuz this tour’s got class!

Avoid the Crowds

Allows you to explore without having to be shoulder-to-shoulder in a large tour group

Created by an exceptional local tour guide

Written by a licensed NYC tour guide since 2012

GPS Directions

Easy-to-follow GPS directions to get you from one point to the next on your tour

Highlights include:

New York Public Library, Goethe Monument, the Grace Building, and the Campbell Apartment

Remote Tour Included

As with all our tours, a remote tour is included that can be enjoyed from home

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newyork42nd_Tour Point 7 Narration 1 Goethe Monument and Carousel

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newyork42nd_Tour Point 14 Narration 1 Nat Sherman Townhouse

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Itinerary

New York City’s 42nd Street

New York Public Library - NYC was late in getting a library system together. This building was a big first step in the right direction. Looking up you can see three placards with three different names. John Jacob Astor had a library that was supposed to be for the working class in the East Village, James Lenox had amassed a great collection that was only accessible to those he invited to his home, and Samuel Tilden was the former Presidential candidate who brought the collections together with his fortune to create a proper library for the people.
NYPL North Terrace Corner - Designed by Hastings himself, these ornate flagpoles that sit on both ends of the terrace, are packed with symbolism.
Mid-Manhattan Library - Andrew Carnegie helped create the branch library system, and today there are two branches in one building.
The Crystal Palace - The land here was considered a park when the reservoir was built, although nothing was really done with it. In 1853 New York's very own Crystal Palace was built, a home for the technologies of tomorrow, of solely metal and glass. It stood for only 5 years before burning down completely within 25 minutes. The irony being that it sat next to the reservoir.
American Radiator Building - This building was originally commissioned by the American Radiator Company, and so it was called the American Radiator Building. The black brick makes it a standout building that's been lauded by many other artists since its completion.
Goethe Monument and Carousel - The Goethe Monument, is a bust dedicated to a German writer, and the carousel is not as old as it appears.
Southwest Porch - A prime example of the ways that public and private groups can work together for the common good
Josephine Shaw Lowell Memorial Fountain - The first monument dedicated to a woman, was this fountain which is today a very popular spot for reporters when it comes time to prove how cold it is outside. Some have said it’s the Friends fountain—although that was filmed in LA.
The Reading Room at the Dodge Monument - As with much of NYC, Bryant Park saw some dark times in the 70s. By this point the collection at the neighboring library had expanded so much that they decided to kill two birds with one huge project. The library pushed their stacks underneath the park, and after digging it up the park itself got a makeover.
Grace Building - If you think you’ve seen this building before—just not here, you may be right. This has a sister building across the street from The Plaza hotel. It was also featured in The Fantastic Four.
Salmon Tower Building - Completed in 1928, this building has many historic memories including Presidential elections and workers strikes. Today, it's the buildings exteriors that really stand out.
Nat Sherman Townhouse - A family legacy in a tobacco shop.
Grand Central Terminal - The largest train station in the world was actually started by a man of the seas. Another beautifully designed Beaux-Arts building that has transported millions of people to destinations beyond the city, has roots beyond the country.
The Campbell - The Campbell Apartment was an office commissioned by Mr. Campbell, who worked in finance and hated a long commute. He loved to display his wealth and would be thrilled to know about the fancy bar that occupies the space today.
The Metlife Building - Formerly known as the Pan Am building back when flying was sexy! The now tanked airline actually had a helipad on the roof and for a while, would shuttle their wealthier clientele from the top of the building to the airport via helicopter ride, until there was an accident where a chopper came in at an angle and one of the propellers broke and killed three people including a man who was hit on the ground. Obviously, that ended the practice.
Yale Club - Nathan Hale was a Yale Grad turned English Teacher turned Revolutionary War Spy. Today this is the Yale Club, which is a pretty exclusive hotel/club
Urbanspace/The Helmsley Building - If you’ve worked up an appetite for something tasty, or perhaps you’d just like a drink that won’t cost you an arm and a leg like you might find at The Campbell, then you should treat yourself to one of the 20 or so vendors slinging food and bev inside.

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