Duffy Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Father Francis D. Duffy Statue
and Duffy Square |
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Statue of Francis P. Duffy
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Triangle bounded by Broadway, Seventh Ave., W. 47th. and W. 46th St., New York, New York |
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| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Charles Keck |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000243 |
| Added to NRHP | March 12, 2001 |
Duffy Square, officially named Father Duffy Square in 1939, is a famous triangular spot in the northern part of Times Square in Manhattan, New York City. You can find it between 46th and 47th Streets, where Broadway and Seventh Avenue meet. It is well known for the TKTS booth, which sells discounted tickets for Broadway shows.
Contents
What is Duffy Square?
Duffy Square is a busy and important part of New York City. It is a place where people gather, especially those looking to enjoy the city's famous theater scene. The square is named after a special person, Father Francis P. Duffy, who was a brave chaplain.
History of the Square
Long ago, in the 1700s and 1800s, a path called Lowes Lane connected Bloomingdale Road (which is now Broadway) to Eastern Post Road. The western end of Lowes Lane was right where Duffy Square is today. Later, Lowes Lane and Eastern Post Road were removed, but Broadway remained.
In 1909, a large plaster statue called Purity (Defeat of Slander) stood briefly in the square. It was fifty feet tall and weighed eight tons!
Important Statues
Today, Duffy Square has two important statues that honor famous people:
Father Francis P. Duffy Statue
One statue is a bronze sculpture of Chaplain Francis P. Duffy. He was a chaplain for New York's "Fighting 69th" Infantry Regiment, a very famous group of soldiers. The square is named after him because of his service. The statue was created by Charles Keck.
The statue of Father Duffy was officially dedicated on May 2, 1937, by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. Two years later, on March 29, 1939, Mayor LaGuardia signed a law to rename the square "Father Duffy Square." The new street signs were put up on June 13 of that year. Both the statue and the square were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This means they are important historical places that should be protected.
George M. Cohan Statue
The other statue in the square shows George M. Cohan. He was a very talented American artist who wrote songs, plays, and also acted and produced shows. His statue was made by sculptor Georg J. Lober.
Gallery
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This map from 1820 shows Lowes Lane meeting Bloomingdale Road.
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A photo from 1904, showing the north end of Times Square before Duffy Square was officially created.
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The red steps behind the statue of Father Duffy are actually the roof of the TKTS booth.
Images for kids
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The "Defeat of Slander" statue that briefly stood in the square.
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A Ferris wheel being built near Duffy Square in August 2021.
See also
In Spanish: Duffy Square para niños
