For years, Union square has been considered the epicenter of art, ideas, and entertainment. Stand on a street corner, and you may witness a barrage of young NYU students headed to class or even a club—depending on the day of the week. The vendors of the Union Square Greenmarket can be found selling plants, food and other trinkets to different customers. Restaurants line the sidewalks, urging you to come inside with the aroma of fresh food and delicious drinks. Skateboarders and bike riders wiz by at the speed of light, off to a new adventure in another part of the city.
It’s all quite exciting, and it wouldn’t be difficult to find a New Yorker who can recount their own special memory of this famous intersection located at the center of Broadway and Fourth Avenue. The name derives from the meeting of two “principal thoroughfares” on the island of Manhattan.
Scattered throughout the square are large statues of important historical figures. The southern entrance of the park features a statue of former President George Washington built by Henry Kirke Brown. The statue’s presence is in memoriam of an event that took place in the square during the time of the American Revolution. The sculpter also created the Abraham Lincoln statue that can be found at the north end and the latest work of art was modeled in 1986 by Karl Adolph Donndorf of world renowned activist Mohandas Gandhi.
Source: http://www.aviewoncities.com/nyc/unionsquare.htm
Between the 1860-and 1880s, Union Square became known as the city’s
theater district. Considered the main hub for transportation, Union Square was
easily accessible and was crawling with theatres, restaurants, retail shops and
other forms of entertainment. “The most prominent players, including the stars and their
respective managers and agents, could be found parading the sidewalks, their
date books in their hands. Those were the days of the barn-stormer, when the
“fly by night” manager was in his element. All classes of showmen
congregated here, and here the plans of the most important stage providers were
matured for many years.”
source- Robert Grau, The
Businessman in the Amusement World (New York: Broadway Publishing Co., 1910), p. 2.
Besides a great place to potentially get your big break, Union Square was churning with activism and protest. Assembling for rallies weren’t limited to
Today, Union Square is the home to students, entertainers and business owners. It is the go-to spot for a picnic on a warm sunny day and one of the best places to pick out the perfect gift at the annual market during holiday time. Whether you’re grabbing some items at Trader Joe’s or enjoying the eclectic routines of the skateboarders and “ShowTime” dancers—Union Square has something to offer everyone.
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