Location: Between Washington Square East, West, North, and South, Manhattan

During the 18th century, the area where Washington Square Park is now located was marshy, undeveloped land that was mainly used as a site for public hangings. From 1797 until 1826 it was also a local Potter’s Field, and it’s estimated that the remains of some 10,000 people were buried here.

Construction of the handsome Greek Revival townhouses that characterize the northern edge of the park began as early as 1830, created as a sedate and rural alternative to the bustle of Lower Manhattan. The park was planned at the same time, although it was not landscaped until 1870 when the New York City Parks Department was first formed. Stanford White designed the Triumphal Arch on the north side of the park in 1895. 5th Avenue originally continued through the park, but the road was removed in the 1960s, and a central plaza and circular fountain were built in its place.

Until the early 20th century, Washington Square was a quiet section of the city, a preserve for the rich and cultured—an ambiance that is captured in Henry James’ novel Washington Square. As Greenwich Village became a focal point for the arts and avant–garde culture, however, the park’s character changed as well. By the late 1960s, it had become the heart of a thriving downtown counterculture scene, where hipsters, musicians, artists, students, and bums all mingled in peace. In the 1980s the park was known for being dangerous and dirty, but clean–up efforts in the 1990s have made it a much safer place. Today, Washington Square Park’s mixture of musicians, acrobats, magicians, students, and local characters makes it one of the best spots in the city for people watching.