Page 96 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

94  NE W Y ORK CIT Y & THE MID-A TLANTIC REGION

Greater New York hand-carved gargoyles, is slated
to be the largest in the world.
Though officially part of New York City, upper Manhattan and Medieval construction methods,
the boroughs outside Manhattan are very different in feel such as stone on stone with
and spirit. Away from the bustle of the inner city, they are supporting buttresses, continue
residential and do not have the famous skyscrapers of to be used to complete the
structure. The cathedral hosts
Midtown. The difference is evident even in the way residents popular cultural events.
describe a trip to Manhattan as “going into the city.” Yet these
areas feature such attractions as Columbia University, the R St. Paul’s Chapel
city’s largest zoo, botanical gardens, museums, churches, Columbia University. Tel (212) 854-
beaches, and huge sports arenas. 1487 concert info. q 116th
St-Columbia Univ. Open 10am–11pm
Mon–Sat (term time), 10am–4pm
(breaks). 5 Sun. 7
R Cathedral of St. John
the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Ave at W 112th St.
Tel (212) 316-7490. q 1 to Cathedral
Pkwy (110th St). @ M4, M5, M7, M11,
M104. Open 7:30am–6pm Mon–Sat,
7:30am–1pm & 3–6pm Sun. 5 Choral
Evensong 4pm Sun. 7 8 =
Concerts, plays, exhibitions, gardens.
∑ stjohndivine.org

Classical-style library building on the main campus of Columbia University, Manhattan ^ Harlem
% Columbia quadrangle, in 1932. To the Map F4. N of 110th St and Central
University right, the 1904 St. Paul’s Chapel Park. q 125th St (2, 3).
is known for its fine woodwork Harlem has been at the heart of
Map F4. Main entrance at W 116th St and vaulted interior, and has African-American culture since
& Broadway. Tel (212) 854-1754. fine acoustics. the 1920s, when poets, activists,
q 1 to 116th St-Columbia University. Columbia, part of the Ivy and jazz musicians came together
Visitors’ Center: Tel (212) 854-4900. League, is noted for its law, during the Harlem Renaissance.
Open 9am–5pm Mon–Fri. 8 1pm medicine, and journalism schools. Although the neighborhood
Mon–Fri. ∑ columbia.edu
Founded in 1912 by publisher gained notoriety for street crime
One of America’s oldest and Joseph Pulitzer, the School of in the 1970s, today the area is
finest universities, Columbia was Journalism is the home of the taking many strides forward in
founded as King’s College under Pulitzer Prize awarded for the best real estate and retail. The most
a charter granted by King in letters and music. Columbia’s obvious signs of gentrification
George II of Great Britain, in distinguished faculty and alumni, can be seen on Frederick
1754. Originally situated in past and present, include over 50 Douglass Boulevard (8th Ave),
lower Manhattan, the present Nobel laureates. Famous alumni between 110th and 125th streets,
campus was built in Morningside include Isaac Asimov, J.D. Salinger, where an array of new stores,
Heights. Architects McKim, Mead and James Franco. cafés, and bars has replaced
& White, who designed its first Visitors to the campus can previously vacant lots. The
buildings around a central stroll along the central condos here are often referred
quadrangle, placed the univ- quadrangle, where jeans-clad to as Harlem’s “Gold Coast”.
ersity on a terrace, serenely future leaders of America meet The area around Malcolm X
above street level. A Classical, and mingle between classes. Boulevard, between West 118th
columned building, the Low Across from the campus are the and 124th streets, is known as
Library, dominates the cafés where students engage in the Mount Morris Park Historic
quadrangle. Daniel Chester lengthy philosophical District. The area makes for a
French’s statue Alma Mater, arguments, debate in the topics great morning or after noon of
(1903) in front of it, became of the day, or simply unwind. explor ation, with its elegant
familiar as the backdrop to the Also across the campus to the brown stones and churches,
1968 anti-Vietnam War student east on Amsterdam Avenue lies of which the Mount Olivet
demonstrations. The building the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Church is worth a visit.
now houses offices, and the Divine. Begun in 1892 and only When it was built in 1907, the
rotunda is used for a variety of two-thirds finished, with its Greco-Roman-style temple was
academic and ceremonial 600-ft- (180-m-) long and 146- intended to be a synagogue,
purposes. Its books were moved ft- (45-m-) wide interior, this but was purchased by Baptists
to Butler Library, across the Neo-Gothic cathedral, with its in 1925.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp122–4 and pp125–7

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