Looking east
Looking north

Hanover Square is a square with a public park in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is triangular in shape, formed by the intersections of Pearl Street and Hanover Street; Pearl Street and a street named "Hanover Square" itself (whose opposite side of Pearl continues as Hanover St.; and William Street (northern continuation of "Hanover Square" street) and Stone Street. The side between Hanover/Pearl intersection and William/Stone intersection is a pedestrian pathway along the building front facing the square and Pearl Street. Most surrounding buildings are primarily commercial.

The square's pocket park is the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden, maintained by the New York City Department of Parks, and has an area of 0.056 acres (0.023 ha) or 2,440 square feet (227 m2).[1]

History

The square was named for the House of Hanover in 1714 when King George I ascended to the throne.[2]

For many years, Hanover Square was the center of New York's commodity market, with the New York Cotton Exchange at 1 Hanover Square, on the square's southwest corner; the New York Cocoa Exchange, now the New York Board of Trade; and others nearby. The square was also known as "Printing House Square". The Great Fire of New York broke out here on December 16, 1835, decimating much of Lower Manhattan.[3] 3 Hanover Square, a former home to the New York Cotton Exchange, and 10 Hanover Square, a former office building, were converted to residential use.

The elevated IRT Third Avenue Line had a station above the square from 1878[4] until 1950.[5] Upon the removal of the elevated, a park at Hanover Square was dedicated in November 1951.[6]

The Queen Elizabeth II Garden (originally the British Garden at Hanover Square) opened in June 2008. Following Queen Elizabeth II's visit of Hanover Square in July 2010, the garden was rededicated as a memorial park for Commonwealth realm citizens who died at the September 11 attacks in May 2012.[7]

Transportation

The nearest New York City Subway stations are:[8]

The fourth phase of the Second Avenue Subway is proposed to extend subway service to Hanover Square.[9]

References

  1. ^ "The Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden Highlights : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  2. ^ Michelle and James Nevius, "A Brief History of Hanover Square", Inside the Apple (July 7 2010) Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  3. ^ Nevius, Michelle; Nevius, James (2009). Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City. Free Press. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-1-4165-8997-6.
  4. ^ "Rapid Transit on the Bowery.; Opening of the East Side Elevated Railroad to-day Time-table and Fares" (PDF). The New York Times. 1878-08-26. p. 8. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  5. ^ Parke, Richard H. (December 23, 1950). "Old 'El' Link End Its 72-Year Uproar — Lower East Side Residents Are Happy and Mission Head Now Expects to Sleep" (PDF). The New York Times. p. 30. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  6. ^ "Admiral Deplores Yielding Ship Lead; Maritime Official Criticizes Reliance on Allied Vessels--Dedicates Hanover Park" (PDF). The New York Times. 1951-11-10. p. 32. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  7. ^ The queen came to the United States after her royal tour of Canada. Queen plans UN speech, then ground zero ceremony[permanent dead link], Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Subway Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  9. ^ MTA map of future 2nd Avenue Line

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hanover Square, Manhattan.

40°42′17″N 74°00′34″W / 40.704607°N 74.009453°W / 40.704607; -74.009453

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