New York Public Library and Bryant Park
Also known as: See Also:New York Public Library
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Why it's listed
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan hold the New York Public Library, designed by Carrère & Hastings and opened in 1911, and behind it Bryant Park, a roughly 500-by-500-foot green space. The library was created in 1895 by merging the Astor, Lenox and Tilden trusts, and in 1901 it merged with ten circulating libraries. Its main reading room seats almost 800 people. Bryant Park occupies ground once used as a potter's field, the site of the Crystal Palace exhibition hall, and the Croton Reservoir. The architects planned the raised terrace, stone kiosks and the archway sheltering the William Cullen Bryant statue to harmonize the building with the park. The present layout follows a 1933 competition for unemployed architects, won by Lusby Simpson of Queens. Public Works Administration workers built it, and it was rededicated in 1934. It has a depressed central lawn, flagstone walks under plane trees and a granite retaining wall. The park was added to the library's earlier landmark status as an integral part of its setting.
Significance in brief: The library is one of the nation's major libraries, created by consolidating the Astor, Lenox and Tilden trusts, and was already a National Historic Landmark. Bryant Park is a prime example of an axial park in the French Classical tradition and a complementary setting for the library. The current park design dates from a 1933 competition won by Lusby Simpson and built in 1934.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000547, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Avenue of the Americas, 5th Ave., 40th and 42nd Sts., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000547 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1933-34) |
| Architect / builder | Carrère & Hastings (library, 1911, and park terrace and kiosks); Lusby Simpson (park design, 1934); Charles A. Platt (Lowell Memorial Fountain, 1912) |
| Architectural style | French Classical tradition (park) |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 21, 1965 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Library listed in excellent condition and in use as a library; park listed as fair and altered, publicly accessible and used as a park. |
| Acreage | 9.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.75351, -73.98299 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000547.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8247542
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.