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Washington Square Park from the 9th floor of NYU’s Kimmel Center, on the south side of the park – By Joe Mabel –

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Washington Square

Washington Square Park is located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of lower Manhattan, New York City. It covers an area of 9.75 acres (39,500 square meters).

It is considered one of the best-known parks in New York after Central Park. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation oversees the park.

The park first opened its doors in the year 1871. There are numerous street performers, and there is also a section set aside for chess players. The Washington Square Arch at the park’s northern entrance dominates the park’s open space.

The Park鈥檚 fountain area has long been one of the city鈥檚 popular spots. Many of the nearby structures have previously functioned as houses and studios for artists.

Now let鈥檚 look at some top facts about Washington Square.

1. The Park Houses the Washington Square Arch

Washington Square Arch from the southeast – By Beyond My Ken –

Since 1889, the Washington Square Arch has been a centerpiece of the park. The arch was initially constructed from wood and plaster.

This was to celebrate the magnificence of George Washington鈥檚 inauguration as president of the United States. The temporary plaster and wood arch became so popular that in 1892 a permanent Tuckahoe marble arch was erected.

The permanent arch was designed by the New York architect Stanford White. The arch was to be located half a block north of the temporary one.

2. The Fountain Was Once a Wading Pool

Fountain at Washington Square Park – By ajay_suresh –

In 1872, the original fountain next to the arch was replaced. It was built in 1852. Robert Moses ordered the fountain’s renovation in 1934 so that it could serve as a wading pool.

In 1947, the city government started requiring permits before public performances could be given in any city park. In December 2007, NYC Parks began construction on a project to redesign and refurbish Washington Square Park.

The fountain was to be moved off center to improve its visual alignment with the arch when viewed from above.

3. Washington Square Park Used to Be a Marsh

The land was once divided by a narrow marshy valley through which Minetta Creek ran. Washington Square Park was once a marsh and a now-buried stream, the Minetta Brook.

It flowed through the western section of Washington Square Park. Urban explorer Steve Duncan has guided tour groups to see the ancient Minetta Brook route by looking down manholes.

4. Washington Square Was Once Called 鈥淟and of The Blacks鈥�

Minetta Creek divided the land and flowed through the park area in the 17th century. During the second half of the 17th century, Washington Square Park used to be Dutch farmland.

The Dutch later distributed the land to the colonized Angolan people. They were using the land as a neutral ground to protect the settlers from Native American hostilities.

In 1643, some partially-freed slaves were given some areas of the land. They mainly used it for farming activities.

The farmers were to pay land dues to the Dutch from the proceeds of their farm produce. The area saw the emergence of a black majority as a result of slavery.

5. Washington Square Park Used to Be a Graveyard

The Washington Square Park remained farmland until April 1797, when the Common Council of New York purchased the fields to the east of the Minetta. The land was to be used as a potter鈥檚 field (public grave site) and a place for public executions.

It was mainly for burying the unknown or the poor when they died. In the 19th century, New York City went through Yellow Fever epidemics.

The majority of the epidemic victims were transported and buried at this cemetery ground. This was because the park was on the outskirts of town. It was considered a hygienic measure.

6. Washington Square Park Was a Military Parade Ground

Military Parade by David Mark from

The western portion of Minetta Creek was leased to New York City in 1826. The Washington Military Parade Ground was then created by preparing the site. For national defense, militiamen received their training here.

During the 1830s, the nearby cities of the parade ground rose in popularity as desirable places to live. The area was renovated to create a park in 1849鈥�1850. It was the area’s first park of its kind. More paths were built, and the park was encircled by a fence after that.

Finally, the New York City Department of Parks took control of the land in 1871. Instead of straight roads, this new body gave Washington Park a curved appearance.

7. Samuel Morse Gave the First Public Demonstration of The Telegraph Here

Samuel Morse, 1857 – By Mathew Benjamin Brady –

Previously, New York University was housed in elegant townhouses near Washington Square Park. Samuel F.B. Morse was an art professor at the institution. In 1838, he gave the public its first demonstration of the telegram at 22 Washington Square, where he lived.

He stood at 22 Washington Square and transmitted a telegram through copper wire he had run from his window to the park. The successful transmission opened a new era of telecommunication.

8. The Oldest Tree in Manhattan Is Located in Washington Square

Despite being the oldest tree in Manhattan, the Hangman鈥檚 Elm is an English elm. It is located in the Northwest corner of Washington Square Park.

According to historical accounts, the elm has lived through around 330 years of American history. The elm is the subject of various myths bearing its name.

A legend was that traitors were hanged from trees during the Revolutionary War. The Marquis de Lafayette even claimed to have seen twenty highwaymen hanged there in 1824.

Another legend claims that Rose Butler, a slave found guilty of setting a fire, was hanged there in 1820. Whatever version of the story is true (if any), the Hangman鈥檚 Elm鈥檚 dark past has contributed to its fittingly horrific name.

9. Statues and Monuments Are Erected In The Park

Statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi – By Uris –

Those commemorated by statues and monuments include George Washington and Italian patriot and soldier Giuseppe Garibaldi. Alexander Lyman Holley is also commemorated.

He was a talented engineer who helped start the American steel industry after the invention of the Bessemer process for mass-producing steel.

10. The Washington Square Park Has a Green Environment and Is Periodically Renovated

The greenery that surrounds Washington Square Park serves as an example of a crucial alluring feature of the park. There are green trees, plants, and grasses throughout the building.

Modern eco-friendly features like solar panels and geothermal systems are evident throughout the park. Redevelopment efforts are carried out to give the park a fresh appearance.

These refurbishment projects might cost tens of millions of dollars to complete. The park now features new lawns, lighting fixtures, chairs, playgrounds, and a stage, adding to its magnificence.