9. Trinity Church
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Trinity Church (completed in 1846) was the highest structure in Manhattan for 30 years. Before crossing Broadway, look to the right and see two other "tallest" buildings. The white gothic building with the pointed green top is Cass Gilbert's Woolworth Building, the tallest in the world when it was built in 1913, and the first of its size to have electric lights. If it's a clear day, you can also see the Chrysler Building in the far distance, the tallest building in the world for a few months in 1931 until the Empire State Building claimed the title. Trinity Parish celebrated its 300th anniversary in 1997. The current church building, Richard Upjohn's Gothic Revival style, is the third on the site. Trinity's past is documented in a small museum at the far end of the church's left aisle. |
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Trinity's beautifully kept chuchyard predates the church's establishment by Royal Charter in 1697. Initially it was a Dutch burial ground. Among the 1,186 graves are those belonging to William Bradford, printer to the U.S. Goverment for more than half a century; to Robert Fulton, the first person to successfully apply steam power to ship locomotion; and to Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the Treasury.
A reminder of Trinity's regal beginnings is the heroic statue in the southeast part of the cemetary near Broadway. It is of John Watts, the last Royal Recorder of the City of New York, who died in 1863. He served the newly independent country as a U.S. Congressman, endowed an orphanage, and was a co-founder of a public health clinic.
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Before leaving Trinity Church, pause on the front steps for the famous view down Wall Street. On days when the flags are flying on the Wall Street buildings, it's a very festive sight. Turn right and continue down Broadway. At number 29 is an Art Deco office tower with striated marble walls, travertine floor, and elevator doors, grills, and mailbox of brushed aluminum. The train, ship and airplane on the Streamline Moderne lobby mailbox literally shout "Speed. Motion. Progress." The building is just 10 years younger than our next stop, the Cunard Building. Continue down Broadway to the next location. |
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