HISTORY
Historical Cradle
Older than New York City itself, City Hall Park and the surrounding area has played an important role for all who settled in Manhattan. The Lenape tribe travelled a well-worn path along the current Park’s western edge, which they called the Wickquasgeck Trail. When New York was a Dutch colony called New Amsterdam, the Park was referred to as the Commons and was used as a pasture, parade ground, and gathering space. It has also contained a prison, almshouse, and burial ground within its 8.8 acres. Today, neighborhood residents, international visitors, office workers, and protestors find a green space to gather, rest, or raise their voices in the heart of New York City.
Historic sketch of City Hall Park looking toward Park Row
Historic black & white photo of City Hall Park, focused on the City Hall building
Historic sketch from 1800's of plans for the fountain in City Hall Park
Historic black & white aerial photo of City Hall Park
Timeline
1765 - New Yorkers protested the Stamp Act in the Commons (as the Park was then known)
1766 - The Sons of Liberty erected a Liberty Pole in the Commons
July 9, 1776 - The Declaration of Independence was read in the Commons, General George Washington attended
November 25, 1783 - The American Flag was raised over the Commons after the British evacuated City Hall Park
1803 - Construction began on City Hall, changing the Commons’ name to City Hall Park
1827 - A parade celebrating New York’s abolition of slavery stopped in the Park
1842 - Croton Fountain was built on the Southside of the Park, bringing fresh water directly from the Croton Reservoir
1870 - The Federal Post Office was built and destroyed the triangular shape of the Park
1871 - Jacob Wrey Mould designed a new fountain for the Park, in a Victorian style
December 31, 1897 - New Yorkers gather in the Park to celebrate the creation of the City of Greater New York
1903 - The Park’s gas lampposts were replaced with electric lampposts
1920 - The Croton Fountain was replaced with a statue
1939 - The Federal Post Office was torn down and the Park returned to a triangular shape
1971 - The Delacorte family donated a new fountain, which remained at the Park until 1999
1996 - Friends of City Hall Park was founded
1997 - A $34.6 million renovation began in the Park, which added a central walkway, new gardens, lighting and pavers
1999 - City Hall Park was rededicated and the fabulous Mould Fountain was re-installed
2001 - The Northern portion of the Park was closed to the public due to the September 11 terrorist attacks
2007 - The Park was again open to the public, although several areas remain closed to this day
2021 - City Hall Park Conservancy was founded by a group of neighborhood volunteers