Broadway
- For other places with the same name, see Broadway (disambiguation).
Broadway is one of the most famous streets in New York City if not the world. Most people think of it as a street in Manhattan past skyscrapers, the theater and Times Square, but there's more to it; Broadway continues into the Bronx and Westchester County all the way to Sleepy Hollow and has a length of about 33 miles or 53 km.
Understand
Broadway is a road with a history reaching back to pre-Columbian times. The Wickquasgeck trail, used by the Native American people by the same name (who lived in the region), followed more or less the same routing as present-day Broadway. The Dutch, who were the first Europeans in the region called it Heeren Wegh (Gentlemen's Way) or Heeren Straat (Gentlemen's Street), and as it became British, they called it Broadway due to it being unusually wide.
Broadway has throughout the city's history been a lively street and major thoroughfare. For instance, already in 1832, British writer Fanny Trollope was impressed with its size, shops, awnings, sidewalks and pedestrians. And Broadway and the attractions lining it have kept impressing visitors from around the world to this day. The street name has been synonymous with the many theaters and shows that are played there, including many of the world's most famous musicals (their names are recognized even by people who aren't into musicals). Broadway's industrial, commercial, artistic and residential history is preserved in the many landmark buildings that line it on both sides. There is a lot of romance about Broadway and many songs have been written about it.
On Manhattan, most streets are laid out in a grid, but Broadway is different, "disrupting the pattern" by making curves and cutting diagonally through the otherwise rectangular blocks, and so you can instantly spot it on a map.
Moving north from Manhattan, the famous icons of the Big Apple are left behind and you will travel through suburbs with parks and occasional views to the Hudson River. This is not to say you wouldn't find some sights here too, including manors, churches and the Croton Aqueduct and other green areas. For visitors from abroad visiting New York, this is also an opportunity to see a more "everyday" side of the U.S.
Prepare
Our New York City article has plenty of useful information for this trip; from what kind of weather you could expect at different times of the year, to how to use public transit and safety advice.
This is an urban itinerary, and for the most part of the trip you won't be far from places to buy snacks, eat, sleep or where you can start or end your trip (e.g. bus stops or subway stations).
Get in and around
By car
This can be a bit challenging if you literally want to travel along the Broadway from end to end. Manhattan is not ideal to get around by car, but this will change the further north you go; the sections in the Bronx and Westchester County can be driven quite reasonably. That said, if you do want to drive on Broadway in Manhattan, be aware that the street is two-way starting at Columbus Circle (59th St.). To the south of that, Broadway goes 1-way downtown only, and there are stretches in Midtown, such as around Times Square, that have been pedestrianized and can no longer be driven.
On the public transit side, buses ply much of Broadway, though you'll have to changes buses multiple times.
By bus
Surveying available bus routes from south to north:
You can take the M55 downtown via Broadway between 8th St. and the Battery, which is at the southern tip of Manhattan (it cannot go uptown on Broadway, which is one-way downtown for that stretch). There are no buses that go down Broadway between 59th St./Columbus Circle and 8th St., so if you want to bridge that gap by bus, you will have to take the M5 downtown to 31st St. and 5th Ave. and change for the M55 there. The M104 goes up and down Broadway between Columbus Circle and 125th St. and gives you a good view when it's not too crowded and you can get a seat. The M4 travels on Broadway between 110th St. and 165th St. The M5 is on Broadway between Columbus Circle and 72nd Street and then after going via Riverside Drive till 135th St., remains on Broadway till its terminus at the George Washington Bus Terminal at 179th St. The M100 is on Broadway from 168th St. to Dyckman St. The Bx7 is on Broadway from 165th St in Manhattan to 231st St in Bronx. The Bx9 continues along Broadway from 225th St, through the Bronx, to the border with Westchester County at 262nd St, NW of the expansive Van Cortland Park. In Westchester County, you can take Bee Line buses. Westchester County Bus 2 travels on Broadway (called South Broadway during the portion of its route in Yonkers) from 242nd St. in the Bronx to Washington Park/City Hall in Yonkers, where it veers off onto Palisade Ave. Then if you're going north, you can pick up Bus 6, which takes you up North Broadway and Broadway through the rest of Yonkers and Hastings-on-Hudson to Dobbs Ferry, where you should get off on North Broadway or Main St. to pick up the 1T. The 1T takes you through Irvington to Tarrytown. At the northern end of that route, you can take the 13, which takes you through Sleepy Hollow and further north to downtown Ossining. All these routes, starting with the M104, can also be done from north to south.
If you'd like to do a lot of this itinerary by bus, check Manhattan, Bronx (operated by NY MTA), and Bee Line bus schedules, and also keep in mind that buses in New York City don't keep closely to schedule, due to traffic conditions and occasional breakdowns, and that some Bee Line bus routes run infrequently, especially outside of rush hours, some don't run at all on Sundays, and if you are waiting for a scheduled bus and it doesn't come or comes early and you miss it, you might be waiting an hour for the next one.
By subway
The subway is a quick way for getting around New York City, and it will take you as far north as 242nd Street in the Bronx, but much of your travel will be underground. The following are trains that travel entirely along (under) Broadway in Bronx and Manhattan:
R W Run entirely under Broadway from Whitehall St/South Ferry Station (ferry from Staten Island) to Times Square on 42nd St.
N Q Same route as R & W (see above) between Canal St and Times Square on 42nd St.
1 Continues north under or above Broadway from Times Square on 42nd St to 242nd St in Bronx at Van Cortland Park (elevated stops are at 125th St. and then at Dyckman St. and throughout the Bronx)
2 3 Parallel with 1 (see above) under Broadway between 42nd St & 96th St before going eastward under Central Park.
See the MTA website for specific schedules and route maps for the subway and buses.
By train
- Metro-North Railroad (Metro-North)-Hudson Line operates between 1 Grand Central Terminal and Poughkeepsie along the east banks of the Hudson River, parallel along Broadway/US Hwy 9 through Westchester County. Trains stop at the Harlem station on 125th Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan and in Morris Heights, University Heights, Marble Hill and Spuyten Duyvil in Bronx. In Westchester County the trains stop in Yonkers, Hastings on Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley on Hudson, Irvington, Tarrytown and Philipse Manor (Sleepy Hollow). From any of the train stations in Westchester County, you can reach Broadway within a few blocks' walk (no more than 1/2 mile to the east) or use a ridehailing service, taxi or a Bee Line Bus.
- Amtrak trains operate along the same route as the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line between New York 1 Pennsylvania Station and Poughkeepsie except they only stop in Yonkers and Croton-Harmon (Croton-on-Hudson). The Amtrak trains passing through are the Empire Service (trains between NYC and upstate New York) as well as the Adirondack (to Montreal); Ethan Allen Express (to Rutland NY); Lake Shore Limited (to Chicago) and Maple Leaf (to Toronto through upstate New York including Buffalo, Niagara Falls)
On foot
Walking is a great option for parts of the street/road that are best experienced at a slower pace; particularly avid walkers with several days to spare could probably pull off the whole route.
Many visitors to New York walk on Broadway in Midtown, Downtown Manhattan (south of 14th St.) and the Upper West Side, but it's also interesting to walk on Broadway in West Harlem (starting around 132nd St., where the #1 subway is no longer elevated) and Washington Heights, lively Dominican neighborhoods where Broadway is the main thoroughfare.
By bicycle
Many people bike on Broadway in Manhattan, but be careful about the hazards of sharing the road with cars, buses, pedestrians, and sometimes food carts, horse carriages, etc.
Go
Many of New York's most famous attractions are on Broadway, and a few others are just a couple of blocks away - these are marked by reddish brown markers.
Listings are given from south to north.
Downtown/Lower Manhattan
The southernmost tip of Manhattan is not on Broadway but only a couple of blocks away, and given that the itinerary follows the whole length of the island, starting your journey here is certainly also an option. From the 2 southern end of Battery Park there are good views to the Statue of Liberty.
- 1 International Mercantile Marine Company Building, 1 Broadway. This pretty 12-story building at the very beginning of Broadway in the Battery was a skyscraper when it was built in 1882.
- 2 National Museum of the American Indian, One Bowling Green (adjacent to the northeast corner of Battery Park; Subway: 4 5 to Bowling Green), ☏ +1-212-514-3700. F-W 10AM–5PM, Th 10AM-8PM. Housed in the Alexander Hamilton US Custom House, this Smithsonian museum is the New York branch of the National Museum of the American Indian (the other branches are in Washington, D.C. and Maryland). Free.
- 3 Bowling Green (at Broadway and Morris; Subway: 4 5 to Bowling Green). A small park at the foot of Broadway which is the oldest public park in the city and is the site of the Charging Bull sculpture created after the 1987 stock market crash. Bowling Green is also the origin point for the Broadway ticker-tape parades; if you walk up Broadway, you can view plaques in the sidewalk honoring the people or events celebrated in these parades.
- 4 26 Broadway (across the street from Bowling Green). This striking landmark multi-level building was constructed for Standard Oil in 1884-85 and enlarged in stages through 1928. You will recognize it by its curved lower reaches topped by a tower that's tapered on top, ending in a cauldron that was used until 1956 to light the building with kerosene, the fuel that made Standard Oil one of the wealthiest companies in the world during the late 19th-century Robber Baron age.
- 3 Wall Street, another famous New York street comes next. The New York Stock Exchange often referred to by the street's name is two blocks down the street.
- 5 Trinity Church (Broadway at Wall St; Subway: 4 5 to Wall St), ☏ +1-212-602-0800. M-F 7AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-4PM, Su 7AM-4PM. The first Episcopalian (Anglican) church and parish was established on this site in 1697 under charter by King William III. The present Neo-Gothic Revival church building (the third incarnation) dates from 1846 and remains a significant landmark within Downtown. The original burial ground at Trinity Church includes the graves and memorials of many historic figures, including Alexander Hamilton, William Bradford, Robert Fulton, and Albert Gallatin. Free.
- 6 St Paul's Chapel, 209 Broadway (between Fulton and Vesey Sts; Subway: 4 5 to Fulton St), ☏ +1-212-602-0800. 10AM-6PM. Built in 1776, the chapel is an active part of the Parish of Trinity Church and is Manhattan's oldest public building in continuous use. It is the only remaining colonial church in New York City and was George Washington's place of worship after he was inaugurated as president. Since 2001, the chapel has been known for surviving the events of 9/11 without even a broken window - despite being across the street from the World Trade Center - and for its role as a place of refuge for the WTC recovery workers in the days that followed. Free.
In this travel guide, Broadway forms the border between TriBeCa and Chinatown; the former is west of Broadway and the latter east of it.
- 7 Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway (between Barclay St and Park Pl; Subway: 2 3 to Park Pl or A C to Chambers St or E to Word Trade Center or R to City Hall), ☏ +1-203-966-9663, info@woolworthtours.com. One of the oldest and most famous of New York's skyscrapers (dubbed the "Cathedral of Commerce"), the neo-Gothic Woolworth Building was completed in 1913 and was the world's tallest building until 1930. The building has a beautiful ornate lobby. Tours are offered most days. Pre-registration is required. $20-45.
- 8 City Hall (Subway: 4 5 6 to Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall or J Z to Chambers St or R to City Hall), ☏ +1-212-788-2656, tours@cityhall.nyc.gov. On a triangular city block between Broadway, Park Row and Chambers Street sits City Hall, a gorgeous gleaming white building completed in 1812 and still serves as the home of certain city government functions, such as the office of the mayor. The building itself is fenced off and only accessible by tour, but there is a lovely park surrounding the building, with plenty of shady trees and a pleasant fountain just to the south of the building. Just north of City Hall and on the same block is the 9 Tweed Courthouse, a gorgeous government structure and the legacy of Tammany Hall boss William M. Tweed, who used the courthouse project to embezzle large sums of money from the city budget and was convicted in a courtroom in this building.
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- 10 City Hall Station. The original subway station, and quite a marvel to witness--the chandeliers and ornate tiling are a sharp contrast to the nearby Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station. There's one catch, though: it's been closed since 1945. However, you can see it by staying on the downtown 6 train after its last stop Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall; it will turn around in the old station. This is the one place in the system where this is allowed, and the announcements reflect that. The Transit Museum (in Downtown Brooklyn) offers occasional tours as well, which allow you to actually walk around the station, but you must be a museum member and a US citizen, making this an impractical choice for most visitors.
- 11 African Burial Ground National Monument, 290 Broadway, 1st floor (north of City Hall), ☏ +1-212-637-2019, fax: +1-212-227-2026. Visitor Center: Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM except Federal holidays; Memorial: Daily 9AM-5PM except Federal holidays. Memorial closed November–March. For most of the 18th century, Africans in New York City were buried in a graveyard outside the city. The graveyard was eventually forgotten and was rediscovered in 1991. This museum and memorial site commemorate the estimated 15,000 Africans that were interred on the site of the memorial. Note that the museum is located inside of a Federal building so airport-style security should be expected. Free.
- 12 Collect Pond Building (Formerly the Royal Typewriter Building and then the Broadway Textile Building), 366 Broadway (corner of Franklin St). A unique and striking 12-story early 20th-century skyscraper, it has carved heads between the 2nd and 3rd floors where you can also see the name of Bernard Semel, Inc., a textile wholesaler and exporter who was one of the former tenants. Also unusual are the vertical indentations on the lower part of the building and the protruded horizontal stripes, decorated with terra cotta.
- 13 E. V. Haughwout Building, 488-492 Broadway (corner of Broome Street). One of the finest examples of the cast-iron-facade buildings that SoHo is famous for. Built in 1857, it is considered as one of the first buildings where the cast-iron structure was left uncovered and rather shaped into the ornamental form replacing a traditional brick, stone or plaster facade. Mr Haughwout ran a tableware emporium sprawling over the building's five stories, famous far beyond the city to the extent that it was there where Mary Todd Lincoln purchased new china for the White House. The emporium also provided customers with a convenience that was a world first - a passenger elevator by Elisha Otis, soon to become a de rigeur amenity of all new buildings in New York.
- 14 The Wall (Gateway to Soho), 599 Broadway. A 1973 piece of minimalist artwork — actually, ranging for 8 stories, quite large rather than minimal — by Forrest Myers graces the blind wall of the building at 599 Broadway. It has actually been removed and rebuilt in the 2000s because of its impact on the wall it is placed on, placed higher to allow for street-level advertising below it. Because of its prominent location at the intersection of Broadway and Houston Street, it is often referred to as marking the Gateway to Soho.
Broadway forms the border between NoHo, which we cover as part of the East Village, and Greenwich Village. The Village, as New Yorkers call it, is west of Broadway, and the East Village is east of it.
- 15 Cable Building, 611 Broadway (at Houston St). So-called because its top two floors were once occupied by the Metropolitan Traction Company, which made cable cars, this beautiful, block-long building that extends to Mercer Street to the west has a striking copper cornice and ornate decorations on its facade. It was built between 1892 and 1894. The Angelika Film Center, one of New York's most famous independent cinemas, is on the Mercer St. side, on the corner of Houston.
- 16 The New York Mercantile Exchange, 628-630 Broadway (between Houston St. and Bleecker St.). This 6-story building, which no longer houses the exchange, has beautiful decorations and windows, though you may find the Urban Outfitters store on the ground floor a little discordant with the feeling of the rest of the building.
- 17 Manhattan Savings Institution Bank Building (Bleecker Tower), 644 Broadway (corner of Bleecker St). Built from 1889 – 1890 in a mix of neo-Romanesque and Queen Anne styles with a striking turret and ornate grilling on the front door, it stands out due to its red color from sandstone and brick and is a particularly outstanding building on a stretch of Broadway with many beautiful buildings.
- 18 Grace Church, 802 Broadway (at 10th St.), ☏ +1 212-254-2000. A lovely neo-Gothic Episcopal church, seemingly inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Free guided tours every Sunday at 1PM, or just walk past and look. Of course, there are also masses, and a concert series is given, too.
Midtown Manhattan
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- 19 Union Square (Subway: 4 5 6 L N Q R to 14th St-Union Sq). An important and historic intersection in New York City, situated where Broadway and the Bowery came together in the early 19th century. Union Square Park (3½ acres) is known for its impressive equestrian statue of George Washington, erected to Henry Kirke Brown's design in 1856. In April 1861, soon after the fall of Fort Sumter, Union Square was the site of a patriotic rally that is thought to have been the largest public gathering in North America up to that time. A newer addition, added in 1986, is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the southwest corner of the park. Union Square is also known for its Greenmarket and for its history as a focus for political demonstrations, including protests at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Union Square became a primary public gathering point for mourners and those seeking information about missing loved ones. People created spontaneous memorials in Union Square, and the square was the setting for vigils held to honor the victims of the attacks.
- 20 Original Lord & Taylor Building, 901 Broadway (corner of 20th St). This ornate structure, completed in 1870 in French Second Empire and renovated in 2009, was part of the department store, and it is well worth your while to look at and admire. The other part of Lord & Taylor, 897 Broadway next door, was separately remodeled in 1914 and is not nearly as interesting.
- 21 Flatiron Building, 23rd St (Broadway and 5th Ave; Subway: R W to 23rd St). An iconic building, considered the oldest remaining skyscraper in Manhattan, the Flatiron was completed in 1902. 285 ft (87 m) tall.
- 22 200 Fifth Avenue, 200 5th Ave (between 23rd and 24th Sts). This building used to be part of the Toy Center and connected to the formerly matching one that was between 24th and 25th Streets by a pedestrian bridge, but that building was torn down and replaced by a new building in the 2010s. However, the remaining landmark building between 23rd and 24th Streets and 5th Avenue was built in 1909 and as of 2021 is occupied most prominently by Eataly, a large purveyor of foodstuffs that concentrates particularly on Italian foods that are imported or made on site.
- 23 Madison Square Park (between 5th and Madison Avs. from 23rd to 26th Sts; Subway: R W to 23rd St), ☏ +1 212-520-7600. A lovely small park which offers beautiful views of the Flatiron, Clock Tower, 200 Fifth Avenue, and Empire State Buildings. There is also a popular Shake Shack kiosk that serves burgers and shakes in the southern end of the park.
- 24 Clock Tower Building (formerly Metropolitan Life Home Office building), 24th St and Madison Ave. A lovely building with a tall clock tower just across Madison Ave from Madison Square Park. This building is not on Broadway, but its clock tower is a strong presence while you approach 23rd St from downtown and walk past Madison Square Park.
Midtown East, as defined by Wikivoyage, is northeast of Broadway, and Broadway just touches it. Where it does, you can find Manhattan's Koreatown, which centers around 32nd St. between 5th Ave. and Broadway on the West Side but does extend to Madison Ave. on the East Side. One block away along 33rd or 34th St is another one of New York's most famous landmarks: the 4 Empire State Building.
When going one block east along 33rd St. will take you to the Empire State Building, rail and sports fans may be interested in going one block west along this street as well. This will take you to 5 Pennsylvania Station, the busiest intercity railroad station in the Western Hemisphere. Right behind it you can find a world-famous indoor sports venue – 6 Madison Square Garden.
Where Broadway passes through the Theatre District, you will find all the famous Broadway theatres, right? Well, almost. A few of them are literally on Broadway, but most are on side streets that Broadway crosses, mostly west of Broadway (some of them to the east), roughly between 42nd and 54th St.
- 1 Macy's, 151 W 34th St (between 7th Ave and Broadway), ☏ +1 212 695-4400. Billing itself as "the World's Largest Store" on the large signs outside, this is the flagship store of the national chain and covers an entire city block. Its holiday window displays are so popular that they usually have a corporate sponsor. One useful tip for visitors is to go to the Macy's guest center on floor 1½ and they will give you a guest card that discounts virtually everything in the store by 11%.
- A library featured in quite a few works of fiction, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building better known as the 7 New York Public Library is a block and a half east along the 40th, 41st or 42nd Street. In the front of it there's Bryant Park with cafés, statues and memorials.
- 25 One Times Square, 1475 Broadway (at 42nd St). Originally the second-tallest building in the world when it opened in 1905, One Times Square was constructed to be the headquarters for The New York Times, a function it would serve for less than ten years. The annual Times Square ball drop is performed from the roof of this building. And you can't miss the famous Dow Jones news and sports zipper (the first news ticker in the world) attached to its lower facade.
- 26 Times Square, Broadway and 7th Avenue, stretching from 42nd to 48th Streets ( 1 2 3 7 N Q R W to Times Sq–42 St). A place filled with video screens, LED signs, and flashing lights; a world wonder or a tourist nightmare depending on your perspective, the "new" Times Square is a family-friendly theme park of themed restaurants, theaters and hotels, as well as a developing business district. The lights and signs can be viewed anytime, but the most enchanting experience comes when one visits Times Square at night, as all the signs and screens are ablaze with color. Times Square is also well known for its famous New Year's Eve ball drop. Those looking for the seedy Times Square of years past will find it around the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and on Eighth Avenue to the west.
- 27 TKTS Booth, 1564 Broadway (at 47th St, at the north end of Times Square), ☏ +1 212 912-9770. Booth: tickets for evening performances Tu 2-8PM, M W-Sa 3-8PM, Su 3-7PM; tickets for matinee performances W Th Sa 10AM-2PM, Su 11AM-3PM. A ticket booth selling discounted Broadway and off-Broadway shows. However, the cheaper tickets aren't the only attraction, as the back of the booth is a large, red-lit glass staircase facing Times Square, which serves as a set of bleachers and offers an excellent opportunity to get above the street and just watch the crowds and flashing signs. Above the booth is a video screen with a live feed of the top step, giving you a chance to appear (if only briefly) on one of the many signs in Times Square.
- 2 Hershey's Times Square, 1593 Broadway (at 48th Street), ☏ +1 212 581-9100. You are able to purchase all types of chocolate goodies and Hershey-themed products at this store. A few dollars can also get you a personalized message scrolled across their zipper outside on the store's facade. Hershey stores are all over the country but this particular store is the largest Hershey's store in the world. It has three floors of pure chocolate, and Hershey's products.
- 3 M&M's World New York, 1600 Broadway (at 48th St), ☏ +1 212 295-3850. Daily 9AM-midnight. You can purchase all types of M&M goodies and M&M-themed trinkets here.
- 28 Brill Building, 1619 Broadway (at 49th St). This building has striking Art Deco doors and decorations, but its fame derives mainly from the fact that numerous hit songs were created in its rooms, particularly in the 1960s. So central was the work in this building to 1960s popular music that there came to be a recognizable "Brill Building sound". Some of the more famous songwriters and lyricists who worked in this building are Burt Bacharach, Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond, Johnny Mercer, Carole King and the team of Lieber and Stoller..
- 1 Birdland Jazz Club, 315 W 44th St (between 8th & 9th Avs; Subway: A C E to 42 St/Port Authority), ☏ +1 212 581-3080. This historic club (though not at the original location of W. 52 St.) — universally acknowledged as one of the top jazz venues in the city — features a great lineup of justly famous performers and has good acoustics. Expect to pay a fair price for that quality.
Uptown/Upper Manhattan and the Bronx
Central Park is northeast of Broadway at 59th St. It can be entered from Columbus Circle, which is where Broadway crosses 8th Ave. (called Central Park West between 59th St. and 110th St.).
Riverside Park
If you go west instead, you'll eventually arrive at Riverside Park, a long narrow park that extends along the bank of Hudson River from 59th-158th St. From here on, a series of green areas will follow the river for the length of Manhattan.
- 29 Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle (Broadway and 59th Street; Subway: A B C D 1 trains to Columbus Circle), ☏ +1 212 823-6300. M-Sa 10AM-9PM; Su 11AM-7PM. Has the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for dining, drinks, and Chihuly chandeliers. It also has a small, ultra-high-end mall with luxury shops and Botero sculptures. In the basement is a large Whole Foods Market, and there is seating for eating their prepared food and salad bar items (cheaper than eating in a restaurant). Or better yet, on nicer days, pick up a prepared meal to go and venture across the street to Columbus Circle or Sheep's Meadow in Central Park for a nice outdoor meal.
- 2 Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, between West 62nd and 66th Streets and Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues (Subway: 1 to 66th St or walkable from A B C D trains at 59th St.; Rose Hall venues are in the Time Warner Center, Broadway at 60th St). The world's largest cultural complex, where you can see theater, symphonies, ballet, opera, movies, art exhibits or just wander the architecturally beautiful buildings, stands where Broadway crosses Columbus Avenue. The buildings are modern, and even have modern chandeliers. There are two opera companies, and the famous Juilliard School of Music is also here. Also part of the complex is the New York Public Library's Library for the Performing Arts, containing circulating and non-circulating collections in music, drama, and dance, as well as special collections of priceless documents that scholars from around the world come to look at.
- 3 Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W. 67th St (between Amsterdam and Broadway), ☏ +1 212-501-3330, boxoffice@kaufman-center.org. Box office hours: Su–Th noon–7PM; F noon–3PM; Sa the Box Office opens one hour prior to curtain time. Important and fairly prestigious venue for classical music, much of it contemporary, and various other kinds of performances. The hall seats about 250 people and has good acoustics for chamber music. This hall is near Lincoln Center but is not part of it; instead, it is part of the Kaufman Music Center, which also runs music schools for children.
- 30 Ansonia (formerly the Ansonia Hotel), 2109 Broadway (Between 73rd and 74th Sts.). This pretty 17-story Beaux Arts building was completed in 1904 and designed to be New York City's first air conditioned hotel. It was a residential hotel, and housed a number of very famous people, including the Hall of Fame baseball player, Babe Ruth; the Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso; the modernist composer, Igor Stravinsky; the Italian conductor of the NBC Symphony, Arturo Toscanini; and writers Theodore Dreiser and Isaac Bashevis Singer. The building is now a condominium.
- 31 Central Savings Bank building, 2112 Broadway (Occupies the block between 73rd and 74th Sts. between Broadway and Amsterdam). This building, which is occupied by Apple Bank for Savings, is a notable Italianate palazzo whose stone facades and metal-barred windows are meant to ooze a sense of security.
- 4 Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway (between 74th and 75th Sts), ☏ +1 212-465-6500, feedback@beacontheatrenyc.com. Box Office hours: M-Sa 11AM - 7PM; if an event starts before 1PM, the Box Office will open 1 hour before event start time; if an event starts after 6:30PM, Box Office will remain open 30 minutes after event start time. Sunday: Closed, except that if an event takes place on Sunday, the Box Office will open at noon or 90 minutes before the event start time (whichever is earlier) and remain open 30 minutes after event start time for Will Call and tickets sales for the evening's event only. This is a major music performance venue for big-time solo acts and groups, and many, many famous artists have performed there, including The Rolling Stones, Jerry Garcia, Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, James Taylor, Radiohead, Queen and the Allman Brothers. Prices are not cheap, and tickets sometimes sell out well in advance.
- 32 Apthorp, 2211 Broadway and 390 West End Avenue (79th-78th Streets, Broadway to West End), ☏ +1 212 799-2211. A beautiful early 20th-century high-rise luxury apartment building, taking up the entire square block between 78th and 79th Sts. between Broadway and West End Avenue.
- Interested in nature and its history? Two blocks east along 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th or 81st Street is the 8 American Museum of Natural History with an impressive collection of exhibits.
- 33 The Belnord, 225 W 86th St. The Belnord looks like the Apthorp and was completed the same year, 1908. This residential building takes up the square block between 86th and 87th Sts. between Broadway and Amsterdam.
- 34 Nicholas Roerich Museum, 319 W. 107th St, ☏ +1 212 864-7704. Tu-Su 2PM-5PM. The museum dedicated to this Russian artist is near Riverside Drive, about a block west of Broadway at 107th St., where it meets West End Ave.
- 35 Columbia University (centered around Broadway and 116 St.; visitors center is in Low Library, Room 213), ☏ +1 212-854-4900, visitorscenter@columbia.edu. Visitors center: M-F 9AM-5PM. A famous Ivy League college that has existed since British colonial times, when it was called King's College.
- 36 Barnard College (across Broadway to the west). One of the Seven Sisters colleges, and is affiliated with Columbia University.
- 37 Teachers College, 120th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam), ☏ +1 212-678-3000. Affiliated with Columbia, Teachers College is an architectural gem with its block length Beaux Arts and neo-Gothic façades.
- 38 Union Theological Seminary, 3041 Broadway (at 121st St), ☏ +1 212-662-7100, online@uts.columbia.edu. This influential Protestant seminary, also associated with Columbia, is a square block gray brick and stone building in Gothic Revival style. You will notice the castle-like Brown Memorial Tower rising above the west side of Broadway.
- 39 Manhattan School of Music, 130 Claremont Ave (122nd St. and Broadway). A conservatory of music. This building, which it has occupied since 1969, was the site of the Juilliard School of Music, before it moved to its current Lincoln Center location. The address is on Claremont Ave, a block west of Broadway, but the building extends north of 122nd St on both Broadway and Claremont.
- 40 Hispanic Society of America, 613 W 155th St (on Audubon Terrace, west of Broadway between 155th and 156th Sts; Subway: 1 to 157 St; Bus: M4, M5, or Bx6 SBS), ☏ +1 212 926-2234, fax: +1 212 690-0743, info@hispanicsociety.org. Closed for renovations as of November 2020. A museum and library devoted to Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American art and culture. Free.
- 41 Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, 3940 Broadway (NE corner of Broadway and West 165th St). M-F 10AM - 5PM. Once the Audubon Ballroom where Malcolm X was assassinated with 21 gunshots. Only a part of the facade of the original building remains (Columbia University demolished the building in 1992). The location now houses a memorial to Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, with a stated goal of advancing human rights and social justice. It also features a 63-foot mural depicting Malcolm X's life.
- 42 United Palace, 4140 Broadway (between West 175th and 176th Streets on Broadway and Wadsworth Avenue), ☏ +1 212-568-6700, info@unitedpalace.org. This block-long building, built in 1930 as Loew's 175th Street Theatre, is an impressive classic movie palace. Billed on its website as "Manhattan’s 4th largest theatre", this landmarked building now functions as both a spiritual center and a performance venue.
- 43 Dyckman Farmhouse, 4881 Broadway (at 204th St; Subway: A to Inwood–207th St), ☏ +1 212 304-9422. Apr–Aug: Th–Sa 11AM–4PM, Su 11AM–3PM; Sep–Oct: Th–Sa 11AM–4PM; Nov–Mar: F Sa 11AM–4PM. The former residence of William Dyckman, who owned several hundred acres of farmland covering much of what is now Inwood and Washington Heights. Nestled incongruously at the otherwise unremarkable corner of 204th and Broadway, the farmhouse has been converted into a small museum of life in early Manhattan and hosts various programs for the neighborhood. The "Hessian Huts" in the back yard are a leftover from the British occupation of Manhattan during the Revolutionary War!. Free; donations accepted.
The Bronx
In the Bronx, the street goes through the neighborhoods of Kingsbridge and Fieldston.
- 5 Van Cortlandt Park, Broadway, Jerome Ave, City Line, Van Cortlandt Park South. It is the fourth largest park in New York City and home of America's oldest golf course. The Van Cortlandt House is the Bronx's oldest building. The largest freshwater lake in all of NYC is in the park. It also has numerous sports fields and ball courts, children's playgrounds, running tracks, and the Riverdale Equestrian Center. During the summer time you’ll find the locals barbecuing and throwing parties in the park.
- 44 Philipse Manor Hall, 29 Warburton Ave., ☏ +1 914 965-4027. A Colonial-era manor house which today serves as a museum and archive, offering many glimpses into life before the American Revolution.
- 45 Untermyer Park, 945 North Broadway. Greek gardens, canals, reflecting pools and other created "ruins". Untermyer Performing Arts Council produces live performances in the park. The performances are free and are done throughout the summer. Special concerts throughout the year are announced on their website.
- 6 Old Croton Aqueduct. Go hiking or biking on the aqueduct's trailway. The original water supply to New York City is now a walking trail that runs from Croton-on-Hudson in the north to Yonkers in the south. Over the 180 years since it was built, portions have disappeared from the downtown areas of several river towns, but it is mostly intact through Hastings-on-Hudson. Two shops sell maps of the trail: Good Yarns at 8 Main St. and The Office Ink at 572 Warburton Ave.
The village offers gorgeous views of the Hudson River from various viewpoints downtown and up in the hills, including the edge of the New Jersey Palisades. The waterfront is a wide expanse of grass, barbecue pits and a playground for relaxing and enjoying the sun. You can see the tall skyscrapers of Manhattan from the water's edge. There are lots of cute shops downtown for window shopping or actual purchasing. Walk the Croton Aqueduct trail to view gorgeous homes and estates of all periods of the town's existence in many styles of architecture.
- 46 The Armour-Stiner House, 45 W Clinton Ave (a bit west of Broadway), ☏ +1 914-817-5763. Commonly called the Octagon house, located off of the Aqueduct, offers some mild thrills for architecture buffs.
- 47 Odell's Tavern (along Broadway). Built in the 1690s, is a less interesting building with greater significance. Among other things, it was where the newly created State of New York's Committee of Safety met to discuss General George Washington's defeat in the Battle of Long Island.
- 48 Villa Lewaro (just south of Fargo Lane). This lavish Italianate 34-room mansion with a red tiled roof was completed in 1918 for Madam C. J. Walker, who is credited with being the first self-made Black female millionaire in American history. The villa was a haunt of Harlem Renaissance and other cultural figures and also hosted conferences on race relations.
- 49 Lyndhurst, 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown (look for entrance sign on Route 9 about 1/2 mile south of the Tappan Zee Bridge), ☏ +1 914-631-4481. Mid-April through October, Tu-Su and holiday Mondays, 10AM-5PM. November through mid-April, Sa and Su only, 10AM-4PM. A Gothic-styled mansion, formerly home of railroad baron Jay Gould. Lyndhurst is now a property of the National Historic Trust. Lyndhurst is often decked out for holidays with themed events like a Victorian Halloween and Fairytale Christmas. The grounds are host to special events: antique, garden, craft (usually spring and fall), kennel club, and automobile shows. The Gothic exterior has been used in vampire movies like House of Dark Shadows, 1970. This National Historic Landmark has 67 acres of grounds and walking trails that are open to the public every day from dawn until dusk. House tours are available Spring through Fall. The schedule varies so see website for details. Mansion: adults $10, seniors $9, students 12-17 with adult $4, children under 12 with adult free. Grounds only: $4.
- 50 Andre Captor’s Monument, N Broadway. Revolutionary War site. A monument marks the spot where 3 Americans captured British spy John André, exposing Benedict Arnold's treasonous plot to turn over West Point to the British. Also the spot in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" where Ichabod Crane first encounters the Headless Horseman.
- 51 Philipsburg Manor Upper Mills, 381 N Broadway, ☏ +1 914 631-3992. April 1 to October 28 daily (closed Tu) 10AM-5PM, last tour at 4PM. October 29 to December 31 daily (closed Tu) 10AM-4PM, last tour at 3PM. March weekends only 10AM-4PM last tour at 3PM. Historic Dutch manor and mill restored to its appearance in the late 17th/early 18th century. In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", Ichabod Crane saunters beside the manor's millpond with the "country damsels" of the neighborhood. This is also the departure point for tours of Kykuit. Adults $10, senior (62 +) $9, children (5-17) $6.
- 52 Rockefeller Estate. Open mid May through the beginning of November, weekdays 10AM-3PM (Closed Tu), weekends 10AM-4PM. Guided tours of the main house, Kykuit, and its gardens and art galleries, are available through Historic Hudson Valley. All Kykuit tours depart from Philipsburg Manor, 381 N Broadway. adults $22, seniors $20, children under 17 $19 (no children under age 10).
- 53 Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, 540 N Broadway, ☏ +1 914 631-0081. Gates open M-F 8AM-4:30PM, Sa-Su 8:30AM-4:30PM. Pay a visit to Washington Irving, Andrew Carnegie, Walter Chrysler, William Rockefeller, and Elizabeth Arden in their final abodes. The style of architecture ranges from Victorian rural at the cemetery's south end to grand neo-classical mausoleums at the north end. Free maps are available in literature boxes at the cemetery office and at the cemetery's south gate.
- 54 Old Dutch Church and Burying Ground, 430 N Broadway. The church has been in continuous use since around 1690, except for a few years during the American Revolution. Free guided tours of the burying ground from Memorial Day Weekend through the end of October, Sundays at 2PM. Self-guided tour book Tales of the Old Dutch Burying Ground is sold at the Philipsburg Manor museum shop. This is the spot where Ichabod Crane sought sanctuary from the Headless Horseman. If you happen to be here after dark, keep in mind that ".the Headless Horseman. it was said, tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard." Park inside adjacent Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
Go next
If you've reached the end of the itinerary in Sleepy Hollow and have a car, you could continue straight north along U.S. Route 9 across northeastern New York state all the way to the Canadian border. By public bus you can explore nearby towns around Westchester County. There are local streets named "Broadway" in the towns north of Sleepy Hollow which are not connected to nor a continuation of this segment of Broadway (between Sleepy Hollow and Manhattan) but may be accessible from US Hwy 9 further north. Some of them are residential side streets.
On the other hand, if you are standing at Battery Place at the southern end of Broadway, you can explore southern Manhattan on foot, take a ferry to Liberty Island (where the Statue of Liberty is), Ellis Island, Governors Island, Staten Island or Brooklyn. Brooklyn is also accessible by subway or by taking the Battery Tunnel if you are driving. You can also cross the iconic Brooklyn Bridge from its entrance across City Hall Park from Broadway, keeping in mind that that's over a half mile north of the Battery.