West Harlem

Another Upper Broadway street scene -- El Mundo department store. Look at the wonderful curved Mansard roof on the building behind the store! Around 145th St we begin to enter the edge of Harlem. I have always admired the ancient neon liquor store sign on the corner of 145th and Broadway. I can't say I've even been in the store, however . . . .

Now, to the south we see the IRT emerge from underground and traverse Manhattan Valley on an elevated structure. Note that there is another El Mundo on the other side of the tracks. In this area you can see what much of New York used to look like in the late 1970s and early 1980s. What a difference a few years make!

Broadway crosses 125th Street at the lowest point of Manhattan Valley. There, a beautiful & strong ironwork bridge carries the IRT high over the street. From Broadway we look east down 125th. We are at the west end of Harlem's main drag, and one of New York's most famous streets. Maybe if you look hard you can find Bill Clinton in the photo? (Well, probably not . . . .)

Looking backwards, we see a typical New York scene: A huge housing project fills the background while in the foreground the #1 train re-enters the tunnel after traveling over Manhattan Valley. Waaaay off in the distance you can see two of the Bridge Apartments, which straddle the Trans Manhattan Expressway between 178th and 179th st. On the other side of the street are the graceful Gothic Revival buildings common around Columbia University.

Return to Washington Heights. Continue with the M4 bus tour.


Another Upper Broadway street scene -- El Mundo department store. Look at the wonderful curved Mansard roof on the building behind the store!	Around 145th St we begin to enter the edge of Harlem. I have always admired the ancient neon liquor store sign on the corner of 145th and Broadway. I can't say I've even been in the store, however . . . .


Now, to the south we see the IRT emerge from underground and traverse Manhattan Valley on an elevated structure. Note that there is another El Mundo on the other side of the tracks.	In this area you can see what much of New York used to look like in the late 1970s and early 1980s. What a difference a few years make!


Broadway crosses 125th Street at the lowest point of Manhattan Valley. There, a beautiful & strong ironwork bridge carries the IRT high over the street.	From Broadway we look east down 125th. We are at the west end of Harlem's main drag, and one of New York's most famous streets. Maybe if you look hard you can find Bill Clinton in the photo? (Well, probably not . . . .)


Looking backwards, we see a typical New York scene: A huge housing project fills the background while in the foreground the #1 train re-enters the tunnel after traveling over Manhattan Valley. Waaaay off in the distance you can see two of the Bridge Apartments, which straddle the Trans Manhattan Expressway between 178th and 179th st.	On the other side of the street are the graceful Gothic Revival buildings common around Columbia University.