Fifth Avenue

Fifth Avenue encapsulates the architectural and social history of New York's most elegant and glamorous street in six walks that guide readers from the Washington Square Arch in Greenwich Village to Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. Fifth Avenue offers readers an architectural tour of Fifth Avenue, stopping at the city's major monuments - the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Saint Patrick's Cathedral - as well as the luxurious glamour of Tiffany's, Cartier, and the Plaza Hotel and the art treasures of Museum Mile. Through six structured walks, the book not only presents the history of New York's most famous avenue, but also explores its architecture in depth, block by block, building by building. This is a book about what can be seen and experienced on Fifth Avenue today. Buildings are chosen for discussion first and foremost because they are interesting to look at. In a relaxed and engaging style, the author presents the building's story, explores the reasons why it is there, and explains why it looks the way it does. Along the way, the reader not only has the chance to discover fascinating and unusual buildings, but also gains a comprehensive understanding of the historic, social, economic, and political forces which shaped Fifth Avenue's growth and character.