Bryant Park is a 9.6-acre public park in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan. Today, half of Bryant Park is occupied by the Main Branch of the New York Public Library while the other half contains a large lawn, a carousel, and an underground structure that houses the library’s stacks of books.
Bryant Park has a long history. It opened in 1847 when it was called Reservoir Square due to the Croton Distributing Reservoir. It also contained the New York Crystal Palace, which hosted the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in 1853 and burned down in 1858. The square was renamed in 1884 for journalist William Cullen Bryant.
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The reservoir was demolished in 1900 and the New York Public Library’s main branch was built on the site, opening in 1911. Currently, the park is being transformed into the “Winter Village” for the holiday season. The village has an ice-skating rink, numerous shops, and vendors to purchase food.
Come take a New York City walking tour with me and we’ll explore the many secrets and treasures of Bryant Park. Visit my website EyesOnManhattan.com and you’ll be able to book a family oriented and personalized tour called “42nd Street from East to West.”

