Belvedere Castle
Central Park
Year built: 1872
Architect: Calvert Vaux
NEW YORK—Constructed as a Victorian folly; smaller scale, largely nonfunctional buildings designed to enhance the natural landscape, Belvedere Castle in the center of Central Park does just that.
Perched on a high point in the park, the tiny fairy tale castle was designed as a landmark for park visitors. Located just north of the 79th Street transverse, Belvedere, or “beautiful view,” in Italian, offers views of the Ramble to the south and Turtle Pond and the Great Lawn to the north. A glimpse into the nearby Delacorte Theatre can also be had during sold-out performances of Shakespeare in the Park.
Belvedere Castle was designed by Calvert Vaux. Vaux and Frederick Law Olmstead designed Central Park after winning a design competition in 1858.
The Gothic castle was built on a heap of native Manhattan schist and was partly constructed from it as well. The marrying of the materials gives the castle the appearance of rising up naturally from the dark gray stone that is commonly seen throughout the park. The window arches, balustrades, and other details are made from gray granite that was quarried in Massachusetts. The granite trim is lighter in color and has a smoother texture than the dark heavy schist.
In 1919 the United States Weather Bureau moved their operations to the castle from their previous location in the 64th Street arsenal; many New Yorkers are familiar with the phrase “The temperature in Central Park is ...” from local radio weather reports. The weather bureau moved out in the 1960s, leaving behind their automated instruments to carry on collecting weather data; and the building fell into disrepair and suffered vandalism and neglect.
In 1982 the Central Park Conservancy undertook a $1.3 million renovation of the castle, replacing the turret, rebuilding the pavilions, and converted the building into a visitors center. It was reopened as the Henry Luce Nature Observatory in 1983.
