New York Vauxhall Gardens

You are standing near the site of New York City's first major pleasure garden, which occupied this very block in the eighteenth century. Named for its famous London namesake, the Vauxhall Gardens opened here in the seventeen sixties as a sophisticated escape from the crowded city streets. Proprietor Samuel Fraunces designed the grounds to be a place of leisure, featuring manicured gravel paths, blooming gardens, and a large dining hall that could host the city's elite. At the time, this area was considered the rural outskirts of Manhattan, providing visitors with a quiet, scenic view of the Hudson River.