Grand Army Plaza - A Golden General

A stop on Central Park Highlights Walk, a free self-guided tour.

You are at the park's grand front door, where Fifth Avenue meets 59th Street. The gleaming gold rider is General William Tecumseh Sherman, the Union commander in the Civil War, led by a winged figure of Victory. The sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens worked on it for years, and it was unveiled here in 1903. The plaza itself is named for the Grand Army of the Republic, the organization of Union veterans.

Turn around and you will see the fountain topped by Pomona, the Roman goddess of abundance, paid for by a bequest from the newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer. Behind her rises the Plaza Hotel, one of the city's most famous addresses.

The plaza is the formal, citified edge of a park that was designed to make you forget the city. From here, Olmsted and Vaux's paths lead you downhill into what feels like countryside within a few steps. Take a last look at the traffic and the towers, then head into the trees.

Getting here: Start beside the Sherman statue at the north end of the plaza, at Fifth Avenue and 59th to 60th Streets.

Did you know?: The Sherman statue is covered in gold leaf, and it has been regilded during restorations to keep its bright shine.

Photo op: Stand at the south side of the statue to frame Victory and the general with the green edge of the park behind them.

More on Wikipedia: Grand Army Plaza · William Tecumseh Sherman · Augustus Saint-Gaudens · Plaza Hotel

Stops on this tour

  1. Grand Army Plaza - A Golden General
  2. The Pond and Gapstow Bridge - The Classic View
  3. Wollman Rink - Skating Under the Skyline
  4. The Mall and Literary Walk - A Cathedral of Elms
  5. Bethesda Terrace - The Heart of the Park
  6. Cherry Hill - A Rest Stop for Horses
  7. Strawberry Fields - A Living Memorial
  8. Bow Bridge - The Park's Romantic Span
  9. The Ramble - A Wild Garden by Design
  10. Turtle Pond - From Reservoir to Wildlife Haven
  11. Delacorte Theater - Free Shakespeare Under the Stars
  12. Seneca Village - The Community Under the Park
  13. Belvedere Castle - The View From Vista Rock