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krulltime
April 16th, 2008, 09:59 AM
Ok this is probably the most extensive photo tour of Washington Heights that you will probably ever see posted! So as always, be nice and leave me a comment. ;)

Anyway, this is a huge neighborhood with a lot to see and do. I cover most of the 'official' neighborhood from 155th street to the shopping corridor of 181st street. This is mostly a Dominican enclave. But a good amount of American Blacks, Whites, Asians and other Hispanic groups do live in the neighborhood as well. Crime still is a problem in the neighborhood (especially among the local youth), but it is not as bad as it used to be back in the 70's to the 90's. It actually has gotten much better and safer theses days for most people. People who have been price out of Manhattan 'south', are looking up here these days. Raising rents have been a complaint in the neighborhood lately for many local residents though. Anyway, as long as you visit during the day, you will probably be fine. Nighttime, there are probably some streets that you might want to avoid, but I am not an expert or street smart in this neighborhood though.

Well if you want, you can visit and spend almost a day wandering around and checking out many of the things that the neighborhood has to offer. You can visit the Hispanic Society of America, which has the largest collection of works from El Greco and Goya, outside of Spain. Manhattan's oldest remaining 'free standing' house, the Morris-Jumel Mansion built in 1765. Also the Little Red Lighthouse (1880), which was made famous by a 1942's children's book and of course walk on the Washington Bridge. There is also this huge Columbia hospital and school complex in the neighborhood.

So please enjoy the tour! :)


Washington Heights, Manhattan

Washington Heights is on the high ridge in Upper Manhattan that rises steeply north of the narrow valley that carries 125th Street to the former ferry landing on the Hudson River. Though the neighborhood was once considered to run as far south as 125th Street, modern usage defines the neighborhood as running north from Harlem (Hamilton Heights) at 155th Street to Inwood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Heights%2C_Manhattan



1. The Hispanic Society of America. Located at 155th Street and Broadway.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684246.jpg

2.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684312.jpg

3. It looks big, but in fact the collection is small and can be done quickly. Plus is free to visit.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684324.jpg

4.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684337.jpg

5. The Boricua College and the American Academy of Arts and Letters also occupy some of those buildings as well.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684350.jpg

6.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684362.jpg

7.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684375.jpg

8.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684386.jpg

9.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684397.jpg

10. Big apartment buildings overlooking the Hudson river.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684249.jpg

11.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684266.jpg

12.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684286.jpg

13.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684297.jpg

14.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684306.jpg

15.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684307.jpg

16. Oh yeah curvy streets.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684311.jpg

17.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684308.jpg

18. Lots of apartment buildings canyons everywhere. Old style.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684310.jpg

19.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684309.jpg

20. Plenty of little parks around.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684313.jpg

21.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684314.jpg

22.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684315.jpg

23. Back on Broadway. A good amount of shops, mostly dominican shops and some chain stores.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684316.jpg

24.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684317.jpg

25.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684318.jpg

26.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684320.jpg

27.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684321.jpg

krulltime
April 16th, 2008, 10:00 AM
28. Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center is a new building that kept an old facade of a building called the Audubon Ballroom. This is the site where Malcolm X was assassinated during a speech in 1965.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684322.jpg

29. These buildings are part of the Columbia medical complex.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684323.jpg

30. Statues representing soldiers that fought in the American Revolutionary War. There was a deadly battle up on this area of Manhattan and the British won.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684325.jpg

31.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684326.jpg

32. Medical buildings. The big ones.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684327.jpg

33.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684328.jpg

34.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684330.jpg

35. An old Armory transform into an athletic building.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684331.jpg

36. Hospital skywalks.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684332.jpg

37.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684333.jpg

38.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684334.jpg

39.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684335.jpg

40.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684338.jpg

41.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684339.jpg

42. Cute churches in the area.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684340.jpg

43.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684342.jpg

44.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684343.jpg

45.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684344.jpg

46.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684345.jpg

47. Looks like a wonderful old theater. It now houses some type of evangelist services.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684346.jpg

48. A little farmers market.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684347.jpg

49.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684349.jpg

50.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684351.jpg

51.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684353.jpg

52.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684354.jpg

53.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684355.jpg

54. Yeah, a 24 hour McDonalds.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684356.jpg

krulltime
April 16th, 2008, 10:01 AM
55.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684357.jpg

56.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684358.jpg

57.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684359.jpg

58.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684360.jpg

59.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684361.jpg

60.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684363.jpg

61.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684364.jpg

62. I was surprise to find these wonderful blocks of townhouses.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684365.jpg

63.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684366.jpg

64.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684368.jpg

65. Morris-Jumel Mansion, headquarters for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. And the oldest free standing house in Manhattan.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684369.jpg

66.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684371.jpg

67. Sylvan Terrace. Historic wooden row houses built in 1882.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684372.jpg

68.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684373.jpg

69.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684374.jpg

70.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684376.jpg

71.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684377.jpg

72.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684378.jpg

73. Some new changes.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684379.jpg

74. High Bridge Park. That is a historic water tower built 1872.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684380.jpg

75.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684381.jpg

76.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684382.jpg

77. Four huge building towers built on top of one of New York's most important highways, 95.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684383.jpg

78.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684384.jpg

79.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684385.jpg

80. Another bus terminal. Yes a second one, besides that big one on 42nd.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684387.jpg

81.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684388.jpg

krulltime
April 16th, 2008, 10:02 AM
82. 181st street shopping corridor.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684389.jpg

83.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684390.jpg

84.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684391.jpg

85.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684392.jpg

86.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684393.jpg

87.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684394.jpg

88.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684395.jpg

89.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684396.jpg

90.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684398.jpg

91.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684399.jpg

92.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684400.jpg

93.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684401.jpg

94.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684402.jpg

95. Oh yeah, we are getting closer to that huge bridge.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684403.jpg

96.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684404.jpg

97.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684405.jpg

98.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684406.jpg

99.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684408.jpg

100.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684251.jpg

101.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684253.jpg

102. Plenty of more apartment building canyons. Not many houses or townhouses here.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684255.jpg

103.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684258.jpg

104.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684260.jpg

105.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684261.jpg

106.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684262.jpg

107.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684263.jpg

108.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684264.jpg

krulltime
April 16th, 2008, 10:03 AM
109.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684265.jpg

110.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684268.jpg

111.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684269.jpg

112.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684271.jpg

113.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684273.jpg

114.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684275.jpg

115.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684282.jpg

116.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684278.jpg

117.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684281.jpg

118. Yes, I am on top of the bridge!
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684284.jpg

119.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684285.jpg

120.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684287.jpg

121. Look at that view!
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684288.jpg

122.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684289.jpg

123. The red lighthouse.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684290.jpg

124.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684291.jpg

125. Now I will be under the bridge.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684292.jpg

126.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684293.jpg

127.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684294.jpg

128.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684295.jpg

129. Little Red Lighthouse under the BIG Washington bridge.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684296.jpg

130.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684298.jpg

131.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684299.jpg

132.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684301.jpg

133.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684302.jpg

134. It looks like home for the fish.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684303.jpg

135.
http://www.pbase.com/image/95684304.jpg

Merry
April 16th, 2008, 10:21 AM
You've just made my day Krull (and Jularc). Absolutely stunning. I LOVE this neighbourhood. Thank you.

brianac
April 16th, 2008, 11:54 AM
Krulltime. Thank you for taking the time to take and post these photographs of a rarely seen part of the ciy.

On my last visit I only went to the bridge and the 181st street area so thanks for showing me what I missed.

The Benniest
April 16th, 2008, 12:01 PM
Thank you for posting these krulltime. Your pictures of the Washington Bridge are fantastic.

*sits and waits for the next photo tour* :D

-Ben

Optimus Prime
April 16th, 2008, 05:04 PM
Fantastic shots. There are some really wonderful buildings in the neighborhood.

ZippyTheChimp
April 16th, 2008, 05:20 PM
Nice to see you out walking again, krultime.

Should we start a shoe fund?

krulltime
April 16th, 2008, 05:59 PM
^ You just know that I had to wear out some shoes with these walks. :D

:) Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I always appreciate them.

Yeah I pretty much went all over the place on this one neighborhood. Up and down, and twisting around. Oh and you wouldn't know what I had to go thru to get to the bottom of that bridge! Highways and roads all over the place, some creepy deserted paths and this one awful pedestrian tunnel. :eek: Many times, I though it was the end for me, but it was all my imagination after all. ;) At the end thankfully, I did find a better way out. LOL!

Optimus Prime
April 17th, 2008, 12:51 PM
I know what you're talking about. I run/walk up the path along the river from time to time, and crossing over/under/through the train tracks and highway to get up to the bridge can be a bit of an adventure.

Matte__86
April 17th, 2008, 03:03 PM
Nice. looks like a great place.
Thanks for sharing.

::Edit::

Ooops, how stupid of me.

brianac
April 17th, 2008, 03:52 PM
^^^

You should read krulltime's introduction here (http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=225605&postcount=1)

krulltime
April 18th, 2008, 02:30 PM
Thanks for checking the thread and for the nice comments. :)

MidtownGuy
April 18th, 2008, 02:50 PM
Beautiful work krulltime, this is another AMAZING:eek: eye-opening look at a truly magnificent neighborhood. Thanks so much.

tdp
April 20th, 2008, 10:01 AM
Krulltime, thank you for sharing.
I love that you explore the 'out of way' places - your tours bring a real feeling being in New York into my home, a few thousand miles across the Atlantic and get that yearning growing again.
(No, don't worry. I'm not going to start singing "New York State Of Mind"!!) :)

I'm good for a few dollars towards that shoe fund!
Keep fit, keep walking (with the camera) and please keep posting!

kz1000ps
April 20th, 2008, 08:22 PM
Loved the tour. I've never been to this part of Manhattan before, and I'd been waiting for something like this for a while. But there's so many drab brown and grey blocks.. it gets a bit depressing.

The central 1920s brick structure of Columbia Med is HUGE! Is it remarkable in any way? It looks like it could be one of the biggest buildings of its era.

Skylimitone
April 22nd, 2008, 06:45 PM
That was a great tour. The hills are fun to bike on up there.