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Throwback Thursday: 12 Photos of Fun, Frozen Days in Central Park

January 10, 2019 | 11:47 AM
in HISTORY, OUTDOORS
18

There hasn’t been much snow yet this winter, but some could be coming this weekend, and it’s worth a look back at how some previous generations enjoyed the cold weather.

The Museum of the City of New York has a nice archive of historical New York photos and we found quite a few of a snow-covered Central Park through the years. Check out 12 of them below.

Skating, Central Park.
A girl and woman ice skating on a frozen lake in Central Park with the Dakota apartment building visible beyond. 1894.

Skating, Central Park.
Boys in uniform form a line on a frozen lake in Central Park. Visible on the left is the Dakota apartment building. 1894.

Parks - Central Park Winter 1896 Children Coasting.
Sledding in Central Park. 1896.

sledding 1897
Sleigh riding. 1897.

Central Park, About 1897.
Horse pulling a sled through Central Park. Around 1897.

[Ice skating in Central Park.]
Ice skating in Central Park. 1900.

Central Park Snow Scene
Snow scene by the bridge, shot by Irving Underhill. 1923.

[Central Park.]
Sledding in Central Park (does anyone know where exactly this is?) 1924.

[Eclipse as visible from lower Central Park.]
Eclipse, seen from Central Park in winter. 1925.

[Central Park and 5th Avenue at 60th Street]
View from Central Park over the pond towards 5th Avenue at 59th Street. Snow is on the ground and the pond is partially frozen. The Hotel Pierre, Sherry Netherland Hotel, Savoy-Plaza Hotel, Squibb Building and Plaza Hotel are all visible. 1930.

[Children playing in the snow in Central Park.]
Playing in the snow. 1965.

[Woman in snow, surrounded by pigeons.]
Woman in snow, surrounded by pigeons. 1985.

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Alex
Alex
6 years ago

“Sledding in Central Park” looks like the boat pond

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Jill
Jill
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Yep! Boat basin. These are beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing them!

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Reply
Peg Munves
Peg Munves
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Yes – agree with Alex. That looks like the Boat Pond pre Alice in Wonderland etc statues

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Reply
Ang
Ang
6 years ago

These are amazing. Thank you for sharing!

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Reply
Susan  Pane
Susan  Pane
6 years ago

The sledding by the small lake might be the Pool at West 100th St.

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Reply
Linda
Linda
6 years ago

‘Sledding in CP’ is the Conservatory Pond at East 72nd
looking north from Pilgrim’s Hill.

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Dave O.
Dave O.
6 years ago

“Sledding in Central Park (does anyone know where exactly this is?) 1924.” – Looks like conservatory water, perhaps from Pilgrim Hill.

The first thing to open in Central Park was the lake for ice skating in 1857. 40,000 people showed up the first weekend.

At the time, ice skating was the only acceptable activity in which an unmarried couple could hold hands in public.

At first, part of the lake near the Oak Bridge was deemed the spot for women to ice skate. But the ‘women only’ section quickly went away.

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Reply
Beth G.
Beth G.
6 years ago
Reply to  Dave O.

I agree with all of this except that the Lake opened for ice skating in December 1858, not 1857. Construction on the park hadn’t started until April 1858.

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Reply
Barbara Mason
Barbara Mason
6 years ago

Looks like the Model Boat pond in 1924 pic asking anyone know where this is? The sledding hiill
Leading down to the pond has an entrance on 72 st snd Fifth Ave
And wow that shot including the Pierre
Sherry Netherland. — broke my heart when they tore down the Savoy Plaza b4 Landmatk Preservatio to put up the ugh GM bldg

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LIS
LIS
6 years ago

The sledding photo is Conservatory Pond. But it looks so unfamiliar because the evergreens have matured and filled in the space.

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Reply
Carol M
Carol M
6 years ago

The pond you see at the bottom of the hill is The Pond located just inside the park at 59th Street and 5th Ave. Recently made famous by the addition of the mandarin duck. The photo was most likely taken from the East Drive facing west..

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James Caffrey
James Caffrey
6 years ago

This is the south side of the lake where they have the rowboats facing towards the west side
Sledding in Central Park (does anyone know where exactly this is?) 1924.

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James Caffrey
James Caffrey
6 years ago

This is the south side of the Row boat pond facing towards the west side
Sledding in Central Park (does anyone know where exactly this is?) 1924.

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Lynn
Lynn
6 years ago

Love the ice skating photo from 1900 with the Dakota and the building that must have preceded the Majestic in the background. Real time travel like Time and Again by Jack Finney

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Nancie March
Nancie March
6 years ago

Coiuld The sledding in CP be the hill and the pond when you walk into park from 100th st?

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Reply
Robert Friedman
Robert Friedman
6 years ago

I think he pond must be the one situated off of CPW about 100 Street. Amusing that other people are sure it is completely different. Can we all be right?!

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Reply
Catherine Friedman
Catherine Friedman
6 years ago

The pond off of CPW and about 10o Street.

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Reply
Joyce
Joyce
6 years ago

The sledding photo in question — Does anyone know where exactly this is? It’s Pilgrim Hill overlooking Conservatory Water. It’s one of the most popular sledding hills even today

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