Washington Square Arch (New York City, New York)

Stone arch modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, built to honor the first president of the United States, George Washington. The Arch serves as both a northern entrance to Washington Square park and as the southern terminus of 5th Avenue. It was built between 1890 and 1892. The interior stair was created with tiling by Guastavino Fireproof Construction Co. The predecessor arch was created out of plaster, straw, and wood to serve as a temporary installation for the centennial of George Washington's inauguration. Just prior to the centennial parade, White stayed up for something like 36 hours--making himself quite sick--hanging lanterns all across 5th Avenue to create a glittering vista for the marchers as they went up the path to 57th Street. New Yorkers loved the arch so much that they privately raised funds to create the present one as a permanent fixture.

On January 23, 1917, Gertrude Drick, John Sloan, Marcel Duchamp, Russell Mann, Betty Turner, and Charles Ellis got into the arch and up the spiral staircase through an unlocked door. They decided to make the night of it: they spread out blankets, hung Chinese lanterns, tied red balloons to the arch’s parapet, sipped tea, shot off cap pistols, and conversed until dawn. They became known as the “Arch Conspirators” after that snowy winter’s day.

During the ghostly Flip City montage in Ghostbusters II, a large pink ghost made his appearance under this arch. Will Smith's character in "I am Legend" lived near the arch. It also served as a filming location for S2E1 of the series "Suits" when Mike has a conversation and S1E4 of the Amazon series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" where Midge stumbles upon a Jane Jacobs rally opposing the Robert Moses plan to put a highway through Washington Square Park.

digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/9653ad40-5102-0134-4c...


www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv25Kx0dKBU

 archinteresting placemovie / film / TV location