New York: A Guide to the Metropolis (Paperback)

by Gerard R. Wolfe (Author) "St. Paul's Chapel is the oldest church in Manhattan (and its oldest public building as well)..." (more)
Key Phrases: gaslit era, crook lampposts, roof cornice, Romanesque Revival, Greek Revival, City Hall (more...)

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 559 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing; 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: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #879,250 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite guide to NYC!, October 26, 1999

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

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!!!

7 of 7 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.

1 of 1 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 (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (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.