Mount Morris Park Historic District facts for kids

Mount Morris Park Historic District is a special area in Harlem, New York City, that was named a historic district in 1971. This means its buildings and streets are important because of their history and unique look. It's a big area, about 16 blocks, located between West 118th and West 124th Streets, Fifth Avenue, and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (also known as Seventh Avenue).

A famous part of this district is "Doctor's Row" on West 122nd Street, Mount Morris Park West, and Malcolm X Boulevard. Many doctors used to live there, including the father of the famous composer Richard Rodgers. The heart of the district, once called Mount Morris Square, is now known as Marcus Garvey Park.

Early History of the Park

Before Europeans settled in New York, the rocky hill in this area was used by Native Americans. It was a great lookout spot because you could see all over the island from there. During the American Revolutionary War, soldiers from Germany, called Hessians, even set up cannons on the hill to control the nearby Harlem River.

The name "Mount Morris" for this rocky hill came about in the 1800s. Another smaller hill nearby was flattened to make way for the New York and Harlem Railroad, which now follows the path of Park Avenue.

In 1839, a large area of about 20 acres was set aside for a park. This park, called "Mount Morris Square," officially opened in 1840. However, it wasn't really improved until 1869, when a city surveyor named Ignaz Pilat designed its beautiful landscape.

The Mount Morris Park Historic District is filled with many old row houses and churches built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can still see many streets that look just as they did back then. The buildings show off different styles from that time, like Romanesque Revival, neo-Grec, and Queen Anne. These styles were influenced by big events like the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Community Life and Preservation

In the 1930s, Robert Moses, who was in charge of New York City's parks, added playgrounds and a swimming pool to the area. Later, in 1968, the famous Boys Choir of Harlem was started in this neighborhood.

In 1973, Mount Morris Square was renamed Marcus Garvey Park. This was done to honor Marcus Garvey, an important leader of the Pan-African movement who worked for the rights and unity of people of African descent around the world. Also in 1973, part of this district was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which recognizes important historical sites in the United States.

To help protect the neighborhood, the Mount Morris Park Community Association (MMPCIA) was formed in 1981. This group works to preserve historic buildings like the Apollo Theatre and the National Black Theatre. They also support important cultural places like the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Studio Museum in Harlem. Every year in June, the MMPCIA hosts "Historic Neighborhood House Tours," where people can visit beautiful old brownstone homes and landmark buildings. In 1996, the historic district was made even larger, extending west and south to include more streets.

Images for kids

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  Mt Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church

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  Apartment house on Mt Morris Park West