Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Roosevelt Island
A four-minute tram ride is the
route to this East River enclave.
Once known as “Welfare Island,”
when it was home to a prison,
poor house, and hospital for the
insane, the 147-acre island was
renamed and redeveloped in the
1970s according to a master plan
drawn up by Philip Johnson and
John Burgee, intended to create
a quiet, almost traffic-free resi-
dential community. The plan has
not been fully developed, although
more than 3,000 apartments
have been built, and while
there is a subway stop from
Manhattan, the only auto
access is via a bridge in
Queens.
d
Trams every 15 mins
from TramPlaza, 2nd Avenue at 59th
St
•
Map H5
St. Nicholas Russian
Orthodox Cathedral
An unexpected bit of Russia, this
building was constructed in 1902
in Muscovite Baroque style with a
façade of red brick, white stone,
and blue and yellow tiles. The
incense-filled interior has marble
columns and an altar enclosed by
wooden screens trimmed with
gold. Mass is still said in Russian.
It is located at 15 East 97th Street.
Winter Antiques Show every
January, as well as for many
society charity balls.
d
643 Park
Avenue at 66th St
•
Map G4 • 212 452
3067
•
Open by appointment only
Henderson Place
Historic District
Built in 1881 by the developer
John C. Henderson for “persons
of moderate means,” these
winning Queen Anne houses
made of brick and stone are
embellished with towers, bays,
gables, dormers, and slate roofs.
They were an investment and
remained in Henderson's family
until the 20th century. Today they
are unique in the city and rank
among the most desirable places
to live. Each block front was
composed as a unit, with small
towers at the end. Twenty-four of
the original 32 units remain.
d
East End Avenue, between 86th &
87th sts
•
Map F5
Seventh Regiment Armory
The socially prominent
members of the Seventh
Regiment, formed in 1806, had
the wherewithal to construct a
remarkable armory in 1877-89,
with a drill room 200 by 300 feet
(60 by 90 m) and 100 feet (30 m)
high, and an administration
building in the form of a medieval
fortress. Interior decoration was
by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Stanford
White, and others, and the result
is opulent rooms with lavish
Victorian furnishings. The drill
room is used for the prestigious
Left
Seventh Regiment Armory
Right
Henderson Place Historic District
134
