Secrets of Washington Heights

Washington Heights is an NYC neighborhood rich in history. Located between 155th Street on the south and Dyckman Street on the north, Washington Heights is definitely an uptown neighborhood in every sense of the word. Of course, it’s located in the northern part of Manhattan, but, as the name suggests, it’s also a very elevated neighborhood. Within its boundaries projects the highest natural point in Manhattan above sea-level. While there are lots of things to do in Washington Heights, it’s largely residential. Here are some of NYC’s secrets of Washington Heights that many locals don’t even know.

Bennett Park

Bennett Park is named for newspaper publisher James Gordon Bennett. His newspaper, the New York Herald, gave Herald Square its name. He also purchased land in uptown Manhattan and Bennett Park opened in 1929. This neighborhood treasure features a family-friendly NYC playground, but also two points of historical importance.

There is a granite plaque laid in stone. This plaque denotes the highest natural point in Manhattan. The highest natural point in Manhattan is 265.05 feet above sea-level. As one might imagine, this was a point of military importance during the American Revolution. It was the site of Fort Washington, the last American stronghold in Manhattan to fall to General Howe.

The Battle of Fort Washington is commemorated in Bennett Park by a twin-tailed six-pound cannon replica. Despite the name Fort Washington, George Washington, and most of his army, had already left the island by November of 1776, BUT colonel Robert Magaw held fast, saying he would fight to the last extremity to prevent Manhattan from falling to General Howe. General Howe wanted Manhattan to be used as a strategic operating base during the Revolutionary War, and to defeat Washingtons’ army, and this was the only fort that stood in his way. The British outnumbered the Americans and had far superior naval powers, and honestly, the Americans didn’t stand much of a chance, but they fought bravely, and manned cannons, such as these. By 4pm the American flag was lowered as they surrendered to General Howe. You can only imagine what George Washington must have felt as he watched from Fort Lee, NJ, knowing that the flag lowering meant Manhattan had fallen to the British. Fortunately, Washington did not give up and would eventually win the war. That battle is commemorated at Bennett Park.

Fort Tryon Park

The most famous park in Washington Heights is known as Fort Tryon Park. Fort Tryon Park is a sprawling space designed by one of the designers of Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted.

Who was Fort Tryon Park Named for? Fort Tryon Park is named for William Tryon, the last British Governor of Colonial New York, but it didn’t get that name until the British took over Manhattan in the American Revolution. Before that, this was known as Mount Washington and before that Dutch settlers called it Lange Bergh meaning “Long Hill” and before the Lenape People called it Chquaesgeck.. Willaim Tryon must have had a good name, because it waa never changed, even after the British troops evacuated New York.

Gilded Age Mansion in Fort Tryon Park

Cornelius Kingsley Garrison Billings, known as C.K.G. for short, was a Gilded Age tycoon obsessed with equestrian sports, so naturally he thought it would be an excellent idea to build a 25-acre riverside equestrian estate in Northern Manhattan. It was said that his estate, also known as Tryon Hall, had stables for over 60 horses, as well as an observatory, galleries, fountains, a pool, and a casino for entertaining, and a hired musician to play hits of the day on a piano. In 1917, Billings sold his home, (he had several others, after all), to John D. Rockefeller. What Rockefeller wanted to do with the estate was complicated, to say the least, but ultimately the mansion caught fire, and in 1927 Rockefeller, brought in Fredercik Law Olstead, one of the geniuses behind Central Park, to transform the land into For Tryon park, but there are still pieces of Tryon Hall scattered as hidden gems throughout Fort Tryon Park.

Captain Molly AKA Margaret Corbin

At the southeast entrance of Fort Tryon Park you will find a plaque honoring Margaret Corbin. When the American Revolution broke out, Margaret’s husband enlisted in the First Company of Pennsylvania Artillery and Margaret did not want him to go alone. She was a nurse and ended up following along with the men, which happened fairly frequently. The women traveling with the troops were often known as Molly Pitchers because they would bring thirsty soldiers much-needed water pitchers. What was not common about Margaret was that on November 16th, 1776, she dressed as a man, and followed her husband into battle to defend fort Washington, which was located here in what we know today as Washington Heights. Her beloved husband fell in battle, but Margaret took over, hel herself arming his very cannon! She apparently had extremely steady aim, and other male soldiers called her Captain Molly, a play on the name of Molly Pitcher. Unfortunately, Margaret herself was wounded and the British took over Fort Washington. However she is recognized as “the first American woman to take a soldier’s part” and was awarded a lifelong military pension, about half of that which her male counterparts received.

Fort Tryon Park is full of photo opportunities. Take beautiful photos and then put them on our giant Times Square Billboard for as low as $150 a day!