As we strolled down the sidewalks of Broadway from 151st to 157th Street, we found ourselves immersed in a distinct Hispanic neighborhood. Despite the strong ethnic presence of the Hispanic majority in the area, we were able to catch glimpses of the remnants of the past, the holdovers from another era. Within this neighborhood, we found that there was a strange harmonious equilibrium between the past and present, and we were able to see the evidence of how the “modern Hispanic flood” swept the area and formed many “islands of the past.”
151st to 153rd
Modern businesses dominate the area form 151st to 153rd Street. In addition to this, this area was the busiest out compared to the four blocks that follow. While walking down these streets, there were people hanging out on the sidewalk, having loud conversations. Other people were talking on their cellphones while walking quickly. This stretch of Broadway contained many Hispanic businesses. For example, there were several delis, grocery stores, salons, barbershops, and a few pharmacies and medical businesses. The presence of these businesses acts as an anchor for the comparison of urbanization against the historic backdrop of the Trinity Church cemetery and the Audubon Terrace.
– Satchel
A snapshot of the various institutions located on between 152nd and 153rd Street on Broadway. Numerous delis, restaurants, and salons decorate this dominantly-Hispanic strip of Broadway.
Here is another look at the variety of businesses that decorate Broadway between 151st and 153rd Street. This area is composed mostly of hair salons and delis.
153rd to 155th
As you reach 153rd Street, the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood and its businesses seem to literally disappear. Welcome to Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum, located on 153rd – 155thStreet, as well as on Broadway and Riverside Drive. It is the only active cemetery in Manhattan. At the end of the cemetary on Broadway and 155th Street, we found The Church of Intercession. We also saw The North Presbyterian Church, located across from Trinity Cemetery on West 155th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway. Both these churches are multicultural congregations, which reflects the harmony of the area’s theological history and its diverse demographics today.
-Christiana
The parish of Trinity Church established Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum, in 1842. Before this, the land was a historical background for the Battle of Fort Washington during the American Revolution. This is one of the two bronze plaques commemorating this momentous event at the cemetery.
The Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum is the only active cemetery in Manhattan. Notable figures who rest here include James Audubon, Alfred D’Orsay Tennyson Dickens, John Jacob Astor, Eliza Jumel, and James Monroe.
155th to 157th
While walking down 155th to 157th Street, it was hard to just overlook the Audubon Terrace so we chose to explore. The Audubon Terrace is located on the original estate of John James Audubon and is a landmark historic district with many Beaux Arts buildings. Many of these buildings are currently occupied by Boricua College (a private bilingual college designed for Hispanics), the Hispanic Society of America, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In addition, there were many statues in the plaza, with one particularly large one labeled El Cid. It was quite interesting to see how even within this historic site, the Hispanic presence was everywhere. Besides the Audubon Terrace, the one other sight that caught our eyes was a pair of chicken-like sculptures titled “The Bantam Pair,” which we found near 157th Street. These sculptures were made by Peter Woytuk for the Arts on the Malls program, which displays contemporary art on the Broadway Malls. It was very strange to know that there was a historic site on one end of the block and a couple of large-scale chicken sculptures that represent contemporary art on the other end.
– Eui Ki
On the west side of Broadway, between 155th and 156th Street, is the location of the Audubon Terrace. Formerly the estate of John James Audubon, it is now a landmark historic district with Beaux Arts buildings that are currently used by Boricua College, the Hispanic Society of America, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
On the west side of Broadway near 157th Street, there is a pair of chicken-shaped sculptures that is fittingly named "The Bantam Pair." These large-scale sculptures were created by Peter Woytuk and they are on public display in the Broadway Malls as part of the Art on the Malls program. (Near the 137th St. "1" train station, which is near CCNY, there is another pair of sculpture that are part of the same program and named "The Sheep Pair!")
