New York: A Guide to the Metropolis [Paperback]

Gerard R. Wolfe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1994

This walking tour guide shows the variety of architectural styles that can be found in New York's public buildings, residences and commercial structures. Its 20 walking tours provide an insider's look at the architecture of New York City, and nearly 300 new and vintage photographs help to bring the city to life. Easy-to-follow street maps make this an ideal walking companion to the city. The book demonstrates the remarkable changes in the New York landscape of the last ten years - new construction in Times Square and Battery Park City, and newly designated historic districts such as the "Flat Iron District". In contains: dozens of rare historical photographs, showing Lower East-Side tenements and sweat shops, street car trolleys and fashionable Chelsea promenades; useful historical details, including mention of the recently discovered "Negroes Burial Ground behind City Hall"; and tours of other boroughs, including often overlooked historical areas of Brooklyn, Queens and Roosevelt Island. Designations of landmark status are clearly marked throughout.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Covering every area of Manhattan--from Battery Park to Central Park, from Washington Square to Times Square--the fascinating architectural history of New York is illuminated in this comprehensive walking-tour guidebook. Essential reading for both native New Yorkers and tourists alike, New York: A Guide to the Metropolis unveils the boundless diversity of Gotham's architectural wonders. The book is chock-full of facts and detailed descriptions, and illustrated with nearly 300 vintage photographs and engravings that bring old New York back to life. Examples of surviving 17th-century Dutch Colonial architecture, historic neighborhoods, and buildings displaying virtually every architectural style known in the United States are highlighted. Twenty walking tours, ranging from two to five hours in length, explore the most fascinating landmarks, structures, and important sites in the city, all of which are clearly marked on easy-to-follow street maps.

Review

If there is a better guidebook to New York City with a historical bent, we haven't seen it.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 559 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill; 2nd edition (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070713979
• ISBN-13: 978-0070713970
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,220,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite guide to NYC!, October 25, 1999

By 

Tony the Tour Guy (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New York: A Guide to the Metropolis (Paperback)

This is the best guide of its kind which I have seen. Wolfe is thorough, engaging, sometimes funny and a joy to read. As a tour guide I have read many books on NYC, and this is one of my favorites. Unlike many other authors, he pays more than lip-service to the outer boroughs, and also offers a good guide to Roosevelt Island.

Let's see an updated edition!!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST FOR LICENSED NYC TOUR GUIDES, April 14, 2004

By 

Ghoulchick "Old-school horror film fiend" (Bronx, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New York: 15 Walking Tours, An Architectural Guide to the Metropolis (Paperback)

I learned more about Manhattan's Lower East Side in this book, than any other in my collection. As a licensed, NYC tour guide, this is now the first book I go to, the ultimate reference. 15 neighborhoods are highlighted with solid information on the architecture of hundreds of buildings as well as nuggets of fascinating stories. Read about how one now defunt NYC Dept. store shipped an albino elephant to one skeptical customer. All true! Anyone studying for the NYC sightseing exam needs to have this book in their collection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the Serious!!, November 15, 2007

By 

Mcgivern Owen L (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New York: 15 Walking Tours, An Architectural Guide to the Metropolis (Paperback)

"15 Walking Tours" is a treasure trove of information about New York City. It is heavy on neighborhood by neighborhood facts, nearly to the point of overload. There are virtual building by building narrations! "15" is also loaded with historical anecdotes. The author seems immersed in fascination with old NYC department stores from the halcyon days of the "carriage trade". That was when New York was really New York! The text is also buttressed by some wonderful old historical photos. Serious work went into this publication and it shows. There are some factual glitches: The text misstates the tenure of former Mayor Wagner (it was 1954-1965) and misdescribes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial next to 55 Water Street. The plaza has been upgraded substantially in recent years. It had fallen into disgraceful disrepair. There are other slips but this reviewer would give the author a pass here. This is New York and there is so much to keep track of. The question here is who will use "15"? This is not for the casual tourist. Only the most dedicated need apply. Potential applicants for becoming a licensed tour guide come to mind! This reviewer is awarding 4 stars based on the serious nature of the text and the amount of research involved. "15" has been around since 1975; silent testimony that many have found it useful, if not casual reading.