Product Description

The devastating events of 9/11 have brought a renewed interest in the rich architectural history of New York City. This highly acclaimed well-illustrated "carry-along" walking tour provides the updated information that tourists, students, architects, and historians need to fully appreciate the architectural aspects that have made NYC one of the most vital cities in the world.

This new third edition features:
* 15 walking tours of NYC's most important structures and neighborhoods
* Easy-to-use maps for each tour with major landmarks clearly indicated
* Nearly 300 vintage photos and engravings
* Interesting, little known historical "tidbits" and anecdotal stories on significant buildings
* Information on the latest landmark designations
* Revised maps and changes in transit information to reflect the effects of 9/11

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #296011 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 476 pages

Amazon.com Review
Covering every area of Manhattan--from Battery Park to Central Park, from Washington Square to Times Square--the fascinating architectural history of New York is illuminated in this comprehensive walking-tour guidebook. Essential reading for both native New Yorkers and tourists alike, New York: A Guide to the Metropolis unveils the boundless diversity of Gotham's architectural wonders. The book is chock-full of facts and detailed descriptions, and illustrated with nearly 300 vintage photographs and engravings that bring old New York back to life. Examples of surviving 17th-century Dutch Colonial architecture, historic neighborhoods, and buildings displaying virtually every architectural style known in the United States are highlighted. Twenty walking tours, ranging from two to five hours in length, explore the most fascinating landmarks, structures, and important sites in the city, all of which are clearly marked on easy-to-follow street maps.

Review
...carefully updated...historian...Wolfe gives itineraries for exploring Manhattan, Roosevelt Island...Brooklyn Heights...noting...landmark status of structures... -- District Lines, Spring 2004

Review
In this carefully updated third edition -- the book has been in print since 1975 -- historian Gerard R. Wolfe gives itineraries for exploring Manhattan, Roosevelt Island and Brooklyn Heights, carefully noting the landmark status of structures en route. (District Lines )

New Books About Old New York

In this carefully updated third edition -- the book has been in print since 1975 -- renowned historian Gerard R. Wolfe gives itineraries for exploring Manhattan, Roosevelt Island, and Brooklyn Heights, carefully noting the landmark status of structures en route. (District Lines )

Excerpts from:

So Many Street Corners, So Many Stories
By CHRIS HEDGES

JUSTIN FERATE speaks of New York City with touching propriety. Give him a street and he begins to spin it out before your eyes, not only the architecture but also what we really want to know: the gossip, the stories, the lives of men and women who scandalized us or captured our imagination. ... Mr. Ferate, in a bow tie and light green houndstooth-check coat, is animated as he tells one of his favorites about the architect Stanford White. He begins by talking about the old Madison Square Garden, which White designed, and he quotes O. Henry as calling Madison Square "the flywheel of the universe." He continues by telling about Harry K. Thaw, who killed White on the roof of the old garden in a triangle that included the Gibson Girl Evelyn Nesbit. ...

He landed in New York City 25 years ago. ...While wandering around Union Square one day, however, he walked into a bookstore and found New York: A Guide to the Metropolis," by Gerard Wolfe. Mr. Ferate said he devoured the book and called Mr. Wolfe to tell him how much he loved it. Mr. Wolfe invited him to come with him on a tour; Mr. Ferate never looked back. ...

"The city is magical. It never runs out of stories." (The New York Times )

Customer Reviews

For the Serious!!
"15 Walking Tours" is a treasure trove of information about New York City. It is heavy on neighborhood by neighborhood facts, nearly to the point of overload. There are virtual building by building narrations! "15" is also loaded with historical anecdotes. The author seems immersed in fascination with old NYC department stores from the halcyon days of the "carriage trade". That was when New York was really New York! The text is also buttressed by some wonderful old historical photos. Serious work went into this publication and it shows. There are some factual glitches: The text misstates the tenure of former Mayor Wagner (it was 1954-1965) and misdescribes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial next to 55 Water Street. The plaza has been upgraded substantially in recent years. It had fallen into disgraceful disrepair. There are other slips but this reviewer would give the author a pass here. This is New York and there is so much to keep track of. The question here is who will use "15"? This is not for the casual tourist. Only the most dedicated need apply. Potential applicants for becoming a licensed tour guide come to mind! This reviewer is awarding 4 stars based on the serious nature of the text and the amount of research involved. "15" has been around since 1975; silent testimony that many have found it useful, if not casual reading.

Map doesn't match text
I took my first walk today, taking one of the tours in the book, Greenwich Village. Although the book led me through a nice, interesting tour, it committed an unpardonable sin. At one point on the tour, the map did NOT match the textual guidance. It was only a few blocks off, but this is a mistake that should be caught prior to publishing.

A MUST FOR LICENSED NYC TOUR GUIDES
I learned more about Manhattan's Lower East Side in this book, than any other in my collection. As a licensed, NYC tour guide, this is now the first book I go to, the ultimate reference. 15 neighborhoods are highlighted with solid information on the architecture of hundreds of buildings as well as nuggets of fascinating stories. Read about how one now defunt NYC Dept. store shipped an albino elephant to one skeptical customer. All true! Anyone studying for the NYC sightseing exam needs to have this book in their collection.