With an abundance of cultural attractions and the convenience of being in the heart of Manhattan, Midtown East & Turtle Bay are extremely attractive NY neighborhoods to inhabit. The two areas are often grouped together and considered one neighborhood because of their close proximity and similar reputation and vibe. Midtown East & Turtle Bay is home to some of the most iconic and diverse architecture in NYC, including the Chrysler Building, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Grand Central Station. With the daytime street activity generated by the work crowd and the proximity of Grand Central Terminal on 42nd Street, this neighborhood is a very central part of the city. Given its prime location, this neighborhood offers convenient access to the rest of the city and beyond.

In the early 1700s, the land now known as Midtown East and Turtle Bay was made up of large estates and two main farms, Turtle Bay Farm and Beekman Farm, given to two Englishmen by the Dutch colonial governor of New Amsterdam. The name Turtle Bay originated from the former cove of the East River, and the abundance of Turtles found in the area. Once the street grid system was created in Manhattan, the hilly landscape of Turtle Bay Farm was broken down to create cross streets, and the land was divided for residential development. Subsequently, tenements, power plants, and slaughterhouses were developed in the area during the 19th century. With an influx of immigration in the late 19th century, the creation of the elevated train lines along Third and Second Avenues, and the deterioration of local tenement buildings, the neighborhood of Turtle Bay began to decay. In the 1920s, the revamping of the neighborhood began with the restoration of the tenements, the establishment of a large communal garden in the area, and the clearing of the slaughterhouses to make room for the construction of the UN headquarters in 1948. The elevated trains were also removed to allow construction of high-rise condominiums and high-rise office buildings to create the iconic neighborhood New York of Midtown East and Turtle Bay that exists today.

Midtown East & Turtle Bay Landmarks and Cultural Institutions

A NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR

Get to know the neighborhood by visiting its most notable landmarks and sites. From museums and sculptures, to parks, markets, and hidden neighborhood gems, you’ll find everything you need to know about the neighborhood’s most unique and historical attractions.

Grand Central Terminal, a world famous landmark and transportation hub in New York City, is located in the heart of Midtown East & Turtle Bay. The Beaux-arts masterpiece opened in 1913 and today sees around 750,000 visitors every day, making it the second most visited destination of New York after Times Square. Its main attraction other than its functionality of retail, dining, and transportation, is the four-faced opal clock in the center of the main concourse – a classic meeting point for New Yorkers and visitors alike, as well as the celestial ceiling of the main concourse that features twelve zodiac constellations.

The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco staple of the New York City skyline. Located at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue, this commercial building stands at 1,046 feet tall, making it the tallest brick building with steel framework in the world. It was commissioned by Walter Chrysler, the head of the automobile Chrysler Corporation, as a project for former NY State senator William H. Reynolds, who is best known for developing Coney Island’s Dreamland amusement park.

Amster Yard is a small enclave in Turtle bay that consists of a pleasant courtyard and five surrounding structures. It was designed and created by artist James Amster between the years of 1933 and 1946. With an entrance conveniently located underneath two buildings on 49th Street, Amster Yard quickly became a popular meeting place soon after its completion. The original buildings were low-rise and mostly composed of stores and offices. Now, it is a quaint composition of private apartments, mostly closed off to the public.

The Whispering Gallery, located on the lower level of Grand Central Terminal, is a quiet and captivating New York City secret. The unusual and perfectly curated architecture of the whispering gallery creates an acoustic marvel that is noted for its beauty. The four arched entryways that make up a square formation are created in such a way that if someone whispers something at one arch, someone else at another arch about 30 feet away can hear exactly what is being said with their ear pressed to the arch – despite the loud noise and commotion of the always busy Grand Central Terminal. The phenomena is explained because of the tight curves of the arches and lack of vents and carpets in the room, essentially trapping the noise waves with nowhere to go thus traveling through the arches themselves.

In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 25th as International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and proposed a permanent memorial at the United Nations Headquarters. The Ark of Return commemorates the horrific tragedy of modern history that was the 400 years in the 15th – 19th century when over 15 million Africans were enslaved and brought under harsh conditions on ships to colonies in America and the Caribbean. The memorial serves to offer people a space to fight against prejudice and racism today, and to contemplate the legacy of the slave trade. Visitors experience three elements while walking through the memorial: Acknowledgement of the Tragedy, Consider the Legacy, and Lest we forget.

Greenacre Pocket Park was designed by Hideo Sasaki in 1971 and developed by the Greenacre Foundation, founded by Abby Rockefeller Mauzè. The park offers an intimate and tranquil urban experience for more than 200,000 visitors each year. It is made up of three levels and is well known for its 25-foot-high waterfall created by massive sculpted blocks with falling water. The beautiful park has been awarded a number of times for its exceptional design. Some of the professional organizations that have recognized the astonishing park for its beauty and contribution to contemporary Manhattan life include the New York Society of Architects, the New York State Association of Architects, and the Parks Council of New York City.