New York - Upper East Side Historic District

Educating the residents of the United States in the cultures and cultural history of the Western Hemisphere is the primary goal of the Americas Society. The society achieves this through display of visual arts, literature and music. The focus of the gallery is on art from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.

Three exhibits a year are presented in the Visual Arts program, of either historical of contemporary significance. The program also offers accompanying educational programs and publications.

Asia Society was founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller to promote Asian culture and strengthen relationships between Asia and the United States. Edward Larrabee Barnes designed the eight-story red granite building. The several galleries in the Asia Society Museum house Asian sculptures, ceramics, bronzes and wood sculptures.

Carl Schurz Park stretches along the East River providing fine views of the river. It was named after Carl Schurz, a former Secretary of the Interior. This is one of New York's great grassy escapes especially on sunny days.

Gracie Mansion was built in 1799 by Archibald Gracie, for whom the mansion is named. In 1896 it became the property of the City of New York and was turned into Carl Schurz Park. Much later on the mansion was restored and today it is open to the public as a museum.

There are beautiful views from here of the East River.

The Grand Army Plaza at the Southeast corner of Central Park has the as it centerpiece a 1903 guilded statue of General Sherman by Augustus Saint-Gauden. The Grand Army in question is the Grand Army of the Republic and took its name to commemorate the Civil War in 1923.

The plaza also boasts a fountain by Carrère and Hastings built in 1912 using a $50,000 donation from Joseph Pulitzer.

The Mount Vernon Hotel operated from 1826 until 1833, when it was a posh country hotel. For many people it was a great escape from the busy city. The stone building was originally a carriage house for the estate, and was constructed in 1799. The property once belonged to Abigail Adams Smith, the daughter of the second president, John Adams.

In the late 1930s the property was restored and opened to the public. On displays are decorative arts and furniture of the 1820s and 30s. Tours take visitors through the various rooms, and offer stories about guests who stayed here and about the news or happenings of the times.

The Park Avenue Armory has become a venue where artists can perform or display unconventional works. The Armory has the large Wade Thompson Drill Hall as well as smaller period rooms. There are always cultural events taking place here so visitors should check the calendar to see what is occurring or upcoming.

The Society of Illustrators was established in 1901 to promote the illustrator's art. In 1981, it opened two galleries showing the history of book and magazine illustration.

The St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1902 in the Muscovite Baroque style. It has five onion domes crowned with crosses, blue and yellow tiles on a red brick and white stone facade.

Temple Emanu-el is one of the largest synagogues in the world, seating 2,500 in the main sanctuary alone. The temple has an impressive limestone edifice, bronze grille doors of the Ark, stained glass, and a recessed arch enclosing a wheel window. It opened in 1929 with one of the principal architects being Clarence Stein. The overall style is neo-gothic with many exterior details being Romanesque.