This image shows a version of Madison Square Garden that no longer exists. The structure, completed in 1890, reflects a different era of architecture and urban design in Manhattan. This photograph is part of the New York Public Library’s Wallach Division Picture Collection and documents the second Madison Square Garden, located at 26th Street and Madison Avenue.
- The building labeled “Garden Theatre” as part of the larger Madison Square Garden complex
- A prominent tower rising above the main structure
- A large multi-level exterior with arched openings at street level
- Surrounding streets with early automobiles and pedestrians visible
- The structure was designed by architect Stanford White and completed in 1890.
- The image is identified as “Madison Square Garden, New York City”
- The photograph is credited to Wurts Brothers, a photography firm based in Huntington, Long Island
- The print is part of a collection of negatives dating from the 1890s through the 1950s
- The item is held by the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs at the New York Public Library
A note on the verso of the photograph states:
“Madison Square Garden, erected 1890, design by Stanford White.”
This photograph provides a direct visual record of a specific iteration of Madison Square Garden, distinct from later versions. It documents the scale, architectural style, and street-level appearance of the building as it stood in the late 19th or early 20th century.
Photo: Madison Square Garden, New York City, built in 1890 and designed by Stanford White, as documented in a photograph by Wurts Brothers. Courtesy of the New York Public Library Digital Collections.
