Carnegie Hall

The site where Carnegie Hall now stands was once known by the unflattering nickname of Hogtown. When plans for the concert hall were first announced, critics dismissed the location as being far too far uptown to attract a sophisticated audience, as the city's cultural center was then concentrated much further south around fourteenth street. Andrew Carnegie financed the project after a chance conversation with a conductor on a honeymoon cruise, betting on a vision that ultimately helped shift the focus of New York City life toward what we now call Midtown.