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Washington Heights is a neighborhood in the northern part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest natural point on Manhattan by Continental Army troops to defend the area from the British forces during the American Revolutionary War.
- Historical Sites
- Little Red Lighthouse
- The High Bridge and High Bridge Water Tower
The highest natural point on Manhattan is found in Bennett Park located at about 183rd Street and Pinehurst Avenue. There’s an official plaque set into the rock, marking it as 265.05 feet above sea level. Bennett Park was the site of Fort Washington, the last stronghold in Manhattan of General Washington’s army and a resounding defeat by the Hessia...
Children’s literature matters! The Little Red Lighthouse is the only lighthouse remaining on Manhattan island, albeit a non-functioning one, is the subject of the 1942 beloved children’s book The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, written by Hildegarde Swift and illustrated by Lynd Ward. The lighthouse, originally located at Sandy Hoo...
New Yorkers love to boast that our free tap water is great stuff, better than bottled water. While the first settlers in New Amsterdam may have enjoyed healthy, delicious local water from ponds, wells, and springs, the city’s population outgrew and polluted its local water supply. By 1835 we were short on water to fight fires, and local water was g...
Washington Heights, located in the northern part of Manhattan, is a vibrant neighborhood with a rich history and diverse community. The neighborhood takes its name from Fort Washington, a Revolutionary War-era fortification that once stood on the heights overlooking the Hudson River.
- The Shabazz Center. Housed in the restored Audubon Ballroom where Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965, the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center is an institution dedicated to continuing the work of the two social justice activists.
- The Morris-Jumel Mansion. A must-visit for lovers of history and old homes, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is the only surviving free-standing, pre-Revolutionary War residence in Manhattan.
- United Palace Theatre. A sight to behold, the landmarked United Palace Theatre on Broadway between West 175th and 176th Streets opened in 1930 as one of five Loew’s “Wonder Theatres” that popped up across the city and New Jersey during this time.
- Elsa La Reina del Chicharron. 1249 St. Nicholas Avenue. Here to meet your chicharrón cravings, Elsa La Reina del Chicharron has reigned supreme in serving up fried pork for decades.
- Sister’s Uptown Bookstore and Cultural Center. The intimate space at this family-owned bookstore is the perfect antidote to sterile chains that have become all too familiar over last 20 years.
- Morris-Jumel Mansion. There’s a mansion in Washington Heights that was built by enslaved individuals who were owned by a colonel in the British Army. Later, the country estate played a role in the American Revolution, and was subsequently owned by a wealthy but somewhat scandalous matron of New York Society.
- Sylvan Terrace. Sylvan Terrace lies just to the west of Morris-Jumel Mansion. The one-block cobblestone street is lined with 20 wooden row houses, giving it a notably different look compared to surrounding streets.
- Hispanic Society Museum & Library. As you step inside this striking Upper Manhattan institution, prepare to be transported to different eras of Spanish-speaking cultures, from medieval Spain to Latin America.
4 days ago · What do Lena Horne, John James Audubon, and Malcolm X all have in common? They all have a connection to New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood!
Welcome to Washington Heights & Inwood Come and see Northern Manhattan with over 600 acres of parkland, majestic views of the Hudson and Palisades, museums of international fame, and a neighborhood rich in history and ethnic diversity. No other community in New York City offers the splendid natural beauty and historical significance of the northern
