Central Park West Historic District, New York

The American Museum of Natural History was founded in 1869 and is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. The museum's permanent collection contains over 32 million pieces such as fossils, human evolution, ocean life and space. The Hayden Planetarium adjoins the museum, along with the Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space.The museum has regularly changing exhibits and also offers many programs designed at engaging visitors, and entertain families. Check the museum's calendar to see about current and upcoming exhibitions.

The Twin Towers are four famous twin towered luxury apartment buildings lining Central Park West. One of them, The San Remo (145 Central Park West), was designed by Emery Roth and is a much sought-after residence whose tenants have included Dustin Hoffman and Diane Keaton (though Madonna was rejected). Roth also designed the Eldorado at 300 Central Park West, which was the address of Marilyn Monroe and Groucho Marx once. Art Deco architect, Irwin S. Chanin, designed The Majestic (115 CPW) and The Century (25 CPW).

The New York Historical Society Museum is one of the oldest museums in the city. Founded in 1804, the museum has a comprehensive collection with over 1.6 million pieces. Among the collection is Audubon's original Birds of America prints, 150 Tiffany lamps, decorative arts from the seventeenth-century, paintings, furniture from the Federal period and a fine silver display.The museum has undergone renovations which greatly improved the facility.

The Dakota was the first luxury apartment building to grace the Upper West Side inspiring other apartments to later spring up. It was designed by the same architect who did the Plaza Hotel, Henry J. Hardenberg, in 1880-84 and remains a highly prestigious address. Its past tenants include: Leonard Bernstein, Lauren Bacall, Boris Karloff, Judy Garland and John Lennon who was senselessly murdered outside the front gate in 1980. The film, Rosemary's Baby, was filmed here.

The Bard Graduate Center is a graduate school for improving the skills of those seeking to become professionals in the decorative arts. The school also features seminars, lectures, and walking tours which are open to the public.

The Columbus Circle is the southwestern corner of Central Park. It is graced by a column with a statue of Christopher Columbus and is also the home of the Maine memorial.