The Haughwout – where Royalty and Presidents Shopped for China

The Haughwout Building is one of the city’s most stunning cast-iron buildings. Its two cast-iron street fronts create a majestic visual effect achieved by the multitude of repeating columns. These facades make the Haughwout stand out among other cast-iron structures, which usually have just one cast-iron front attached to a brick framework. Technologically, cast-iron was…

The first American World Fair — elevators and pianos in Bryant Park

A charming little park behind the New York Public Library boasts quite an unusual history. Like many other parks in the city, it started as a potter’s field. Yet, unlike other parks, it was once the site of the biggest tourist attraction of its day. A location for America’s first World’s Fair — the Crystal…