Columbus Circle
Columbus Circle is a major New York City Landmark located at the intersection of the southwest corner of Central Park, 8th Avenue, 59th Street, Central Park West, and Broadway, in Manhattan. The landmark, dedicated to Christopher Columbus, was build in 1905 and renovated in 2005. For people visiting New York City, the area around Columbus Circle is a centrally located place to stay. Many of the hotels are located within walking distance of some of New York City's top sites and attractions.
At the center of the circle is a marble statue of Christopher Columbus set on top of a 70 foot granite column. It is decorated with bronze representations of Columbus's three ships: the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. There is a pedestal with an angel holding a globe. The monument was created by Italian sculptor Gaetano Russo in 1892 to commemorate the 400th year anniversary of Columbus's voyage to the Indies.
During the 2005 renovation, fountains were added by WET, the creators of the fountains at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas. Wooden benches and plans were added around the monument. The outer circle of the monument is approximately 148,000 square feet and the inner circle is approximately 36,000 square feet.
Columbus Circle has always been an important transportation hub. William P. Eno designed the traffic circle. Eno was responsible for many innovations in traffic control and road safety. All of the #1 New York City lines connect at the 59th Street – Columbus Circle station, as do the M5, M7, M10, M20, and M104 bus lines.
Columbus Circle is a famous location seen in a many moves including: Taxi Driver, Die Hard with a Vengeance, I am Legend, Cloverfield, Enchanted, The Devil Wears Prada, Home Alone 2, It Could Happen to You, August Rush, and Ghostbusters. In Ghostbusters, it is the location where the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man starts his trip towards 55 Central Park West.
The area around Columbus Circle has a lot to see and do in New York City. There are many fine hotel accommodations for all budgets in the surrounding neighborhood. Within a mile of Columbus Circle are: Times Square, Hearst Tower, the Grand Army Plaza, The American Museum of National History, and Lincoln Center. The Upper West Side is north of Columbus Circle and Midtown and Hell's Kitchen to the south. The Time Warner Center is to the west of Columbus Circle, where the old New York Coliseum was located. The Shops of Columbus Circle is a top retail destination for locals and visitors alike. Also nearby are the New York City headquarters for CNN and Trump International Tower with its massive steel globe.
Merchant's Gate to Central Park is northeast of Columbus Circle. The Maine Monument is located there. The monument was designed by Harold Van Buren Magonigle, and built in 1913. It is a large monument made of gilded bronze and marble, dedicated to the sailors killed in an explosion on the battleship USS Maine in 1898 at Havana harbor.
Hotels: For hotels near Columbus Circle Click Here