THE MUSEUM · ROOMS 112 TO 183

The city behind
the city.

72 rooms opened in THE MUSEUM after the first 111, and the count keeps climbing: working worlds, landmarks, the city in motion, houses of worship, the night markets and the parks, Penn Station as it stood, a Crystal Palace, and a Hall of Fame for every honorary New Yorker. Each one hangs the New Yorkers who belong there and keeps New York time. Tap a room and you are standing in it.

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The honoraries, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 183 · HALL OF FAME FOR GREAT AMERICANS, UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS / THE BRONX

The honoraries

Stanford White's Hall of Fame for Great Americans, the 630 foot colonnade on the heights over the Harlem River, and the Gould Memorial Library it wraps, rebuilt as the house of every honorary New Yorker MLow has painted. Under the coffered dome and its Tiffany laylight, sixteen green Connemara marble columns ring a drum hung floor to ceiling with portraits in three tiers. A vaulted passage of census works leads west to the colonnade, where each bay holds two more over a bronze tablet with the names, and the river and the Palisades lie beyond the parapet. Stand on the bronze laurel in the middle of the rotunda and the dome calls a name.

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The arrival, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 182 · MLOW INTERNATIONAL, TERMINAL B "BLOSSOM" / QUEENS

The arrival

MLow's airport, landed in the census as the room for The Arrival. From the air Terminal B reads as the evil eye, an almond plaza with a blue glass dome for an iris, and its seven gate pods open like the blossom. You arrive under the dome, among check in islands and the departures board, walk the gallery concourse where the census hangs in the terminal's own frames, and come out in the blossom gate hub among the seven sculptures. Through the glass, MW317 rolls down the runway and climbs away. Stand on the blossom in the middle of the hub and it is cleared for you.

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The glass house, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 181 · NEW YORK CRYSTAL PALACE, 1853 / RESERVOIR SQUARE

The glass house

The New York Crystal Palace of 1853, the iron and glass hall of the first world's fair in America, which stood where Bryant Park is and burned to the ground in 1858, raised again as a gallery. You come off Sixth Avenue into a Greek cross of glass under a stained glass dome that throws its colours across the floor wherever the real New York sun puts them. Red damask screens down the nave, an iron fountain, a beam engine with its flywheel turning, and in the north arm the evening it burned, the glass melting into signal. Step onto the open platform under the dome and it carries you up into the colour, the rope is cut, and the pawls hold. Stand still before any work and the dome finds it.

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The hall New York lost, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 180 · PENNSYLVANIA STATION, 1910 / THE CENSUS HALL

The hall New York lost

The Pennsylvania Station of 1910, the station New York pulled down from October 1963, raised again as the census hall of the New Yorkers. You come in off Seventh Avenue through the Doric colonnade and a row of brass turnstiles, down the arcade and the grand stair into the travertine waiting room under its coffered vault, where light falls through the lunettes on the side the real sun is on. Past the census desk the hall breaks: one side intact, the other half demolished under a swinging ball, and beyond it the steel and glass concourse at night, drawn in dots. Stand still before any work and it comes apart into colour; give your wallet or name at the desk and a light finds yours.

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EVERY ROOM SINCE 111, NEWEST FIRST

Columbus Park at seven, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 179 · COLUMBUS PARK / CHINATOWN

Columbus Park at seven

Seven in the morning, everyone already here

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Three in the morning at Hunts Point, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 178 · HUNTS POINT PRODUCE MARKET / THE BRONX

Three in the morning at Hunts Point

Sodium light, cold air, forklifts

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The lights of Dyker Heights, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 177 · DYKER HEIGHTS / 84TH STREET

The lights of Dyker Heights

December, snow, every bulb on the block

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The Queens Night Market, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 176 · QUEENS NIGHT MARKET / FLUSHING MEADOWS

The Queens Night Market

Saturday night, a hundred tents, eighty countries

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The cube at Astor Place, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 175 · ASTOR PLACE / COOPER SQUARE

The cube at Astor Place

Push it and it turns

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The shelf over the expressway, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 174 · BROOKLYN HEIGHTS PROMENADE / COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

The shelf over the expressway

Late afternoon, the harbour going gold

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The last week of April, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 173 · BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN / FLATBUSH AVENUE

The last week of April

Petals on everything

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Shakespeare in the Park, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 172 · THE DELACORTE THEATER / CENTRAL PARK

Shakespeare in the Park

Curtain at eight, the castle lit behind the stage

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The sea lion pool, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 171 · CENTRAL PARK ZOO / 64TH STREET

The sea lion pool

Feeding time, and the clock about to play

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A room and a garden, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 170 · FOUR FREEDOMS PARK / ROOSEVELT ISLAND

A room and a garden

Granite, lindens, the river on both sides

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The Little Red Lighthouse, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 169 · JEFFREY'S HOOK / FORT WASHINGTON PARK

The Little Red Lighthouse

Late afternoon under the great gray bridge

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The lawn behind the library, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 168 · BRYANT PARK / 42ND STREET

The lawn behind the library

Lunch hour on the lawn, a film after dark

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The Greenmarket and the Metronome, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 167 · UNION SQUARE / 14TH STREET

The Greenmarket and the Metronome

Market day, the whole city passing through

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Eighty feet under Liberty Street, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 166 · FEDERAL RESERVE GOLD VAULT / LIBERTY STREET

Eighty feet under Liberty Street

Bedrock, steel, and a door that turns

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The loop under City Hall, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 165 · CITY HALL STATION / THE 1904 LOOP

The loop under City Hall

A 6 train turning round under 1904

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The locked park, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 164 · GRAMERCY PARK

The locked park

Behind the railings, a key away

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Two towers on 67th, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 163 · PARK EAST SYNAGOGUE / EAST 67TH STREET

Two towers on 67th

Afternoon, school letting out

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The oldest congregation, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 162 · SHEARITH ISRAEL / CENTRAL PARK WEST

The oldest congregation

Morning on the avenue, candles inside

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Jerusalem stone on 63rd, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 161 · SAFRA SYNAGOGUE / EAST 63RD STREET

Jerusalem stone on 63rd

Friday afternoon, stone, wood and light

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The Ohel, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 160 · THE OHEL / CAMBRIA HEIGHTS

The Ohel

A quiet afternoon, candles lit

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Seven seventy, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 159 · 770 EASTERN PARKWAY / CROWN HEIGHTS

Seven seventy

Afternoon on the Parkway, the hall below full

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The Jewish Center, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 158 · THE JEWISH CENTER / WEST 86TH STREET

The Jewish Center

Shul, school and swimming pool in one tall house

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Kehilath Jeshurun, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 157 · KEHILATH JESHURUN / EAST 85TH STREET

Kehilath Jeshurun

A school afternoon on a rowhouse street

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Temple Emanu-El, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 156 · TEMPLE EMANU-EL / FIFTH AVENUE AT 65TH STREET

Temple Emanu-El

Late afternoon, a gold arch and one red light

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The golden book, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 155 · BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY / GRAND ARMY PLAZA

The golden book

Afternoon on the library steps

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The biscuit factory, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 154 · CHELSEA MARKET / NINTH AVENUE

The biscuit factory

Brick, pipes and lunch

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An afternoon at the Plaza, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 153 · THE PLAZA / THE PALM COURT

An afternoon at the Plaza

Tea under the glass

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The yard in Owego, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 152 · UPSTATE SHREDDING / OWEGO, NEW YORK

The yard in Owego

Summer noon, the shredder running

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The gold wall, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 151 · UNITED NATIONS / GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL

The gold wall

The General Debate, a speaker at the rostrum

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The bridge over the Lake, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 150 · BOW BRIDGE / CENTRAL PARK

The bridge over the Lake

October, oars in the water

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Washington Street, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 149 · DUMBO / WASHINGTON STREET

Washington Street

Everybody stops for the same picture

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The nave on Fifth, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 148 · ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL / FIFTH AVENUE

The nave on Fifth

Late morning, candles and colour

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The eighty sixth floor, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 147 · EMPIRE STATE BUILDING / 34TH STREET

The eighty sixth floor

Golden hour, a thousand and fifty feet up

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The tree and the rink, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 146 · ROCKEFELLER PLAZA / THE RINK

The tree and the rink

December, seven in the evening

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The finest in the world, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 145 · ASTORIA PARK POOL / QUEENS

The finest in the world

Ninety three degrees, everybody in

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Ocean Wonders, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 144 · NEW YORK AQUARIUM / CONEY ISLAND

Ocean Wonders

Blue, and something circling

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Fifty seven horses, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 143 · THE CENTRAL PARK CAROUSEL / MID PARK AT 64TH

Fifty seven horses

Three quarter time, all afternoon

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The night session, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 142 · ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM / FLUSHING MEADOWS

The night session

Deuce, under the open roof

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Two in the morning, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 141 · THE PARADISE GARAGE / 84 KING STREET

Two in the morning

Members only, no bar

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The Fourth over the East River, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 140 · BROOKLYN HEIGHTS PROMENADE

The Fourth over the East River

Nine forty, everybody quiet

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First due, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 139 · ENGINE COMPANY 55 / 363 BROOME STREET

First due

The bell, then the doors

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The lion comes down Mott Street, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 138 · CHINATOWN / MOTT STREET

The lion comes down Mott Street

Confetti, drums, first day

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Four in the morning, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 137 · THE NEW FULTON FISH MARKET / HUNTS POINT

Four in the morning

Cold store, before dawn

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A house above the city, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 136 · HAMILTON GRANGE / ST. NICHOLAS PARK

A house above the city

Porch light

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The garden listens, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 135 · LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE / CORONA

The garden listens

A Queens afternoon

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The city at the counter, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 134 · ESSEX MARKET / ESSEX CROSSING

The city at the counter

Saturday at noon

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A sky inside Jamaica, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 133 · LOEW'S VALENCIA / JAMAICA, QUEENS

A sky inside Jamaica

1929, the clouds are on

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Before the curtain, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 132 · KINGS THEATRE / FLATBUSH AVENUE

Before the curtain

The grand foyer, doors at seven

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Poetry in the yard, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 131 · ST. MARK'S CHURCH IN-THE-BOWERY

Poetry in the yard

East Village, a reading at eight

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Seventeen honey locusts, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 130 · PALEY PARK / EAST 53RD STREET

Seventeen honey locusts

Dappled noon

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The waterfall room, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 129 · GREENACRE PARK / EAST 51ST STREET

The waterfall room

Lunch hour under the water

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Arrivals in the round, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 128 · CASTLE CLINTON / THE BATTERY

Arrivals in the round

Harbor morning

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The public portrait, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 127 · CITY HALL ROTUNDA

The public portrait

Civic daylight

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An immigrant constellation, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 126 · ELDRIDGE STREET SYNAGOGUE

An immigrant constellation

Painted stars, a window of blue glass

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The clock keeps stories, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 125 · JEFFERSON MARKET LIBRARY

The clock keeps stories

Village Gothic, a bright morning

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Between the lions, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 124 · NYPL / ASTOR HALL

Between the lions

Fifth Avenue, mid afternoon

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Barney Greengrass: Sunday regulars, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 123 · BARNEY GREENGRASS / UPPER WEST SIDE

Barney Greengrass: Sunday regulars

A table near the window

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Katz’s: The portrait lunch, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 122 · KATZ’S DELICATESSEN / LOWER EAST SIDE

Katz’s: The portrait lunch

Houston Street, lunchtime

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Winter stored as a mountain, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 121 · SPRING STREET AND WEST STREET

Winter stored as a mountain

The city before snow

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The fourth wall belongs to us, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 120 · ALLEN STREET, LOWER EAST SIDE

The fourth wall belongs to us

Golden hour, last game

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Before the flowers wake, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 119 · WEST 28TH STREET, THE FLOWER DISTRICT

Before the flowers wake

Four in the morning

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Every light is a fare, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 118 · VERNON BOULEVARD, LONG ISLAND CITY

Every light is a fare

Five o'clock shift change

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Spin cycle for a sleepless city, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 117 · ROOSEVELT AVENUE, JACKSON HEIGHTS

Spin cycle for a sleepless city

Three in the morning

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Tomorrow is wet ink, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 116 · NEWSPAPER ROW PRESS FLOOR, ABOUT 1890

Tomorrow is wet ink

The city goes to press

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The city exhales, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 115 · CON EDISON DISTRICT STEAM, SINCE 1882

The city exhales

Pressure held

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Forty-seven facets, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 114 · WEST 47TH STREET, THE DIAMOND DISTRICT

Forty-seven facets

Midnight appraisal

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The pattern cathedral, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 113 · SEVENTH AVENUE CUTTING LOFT, 1920S TO 1950S

The pattern cathedral

North light, the last fitting

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Letters through the void, a walkable room in THE MUSEUM

ROOM 112 · THE PNEUMATIC TUBE MAIL, 1897 TO 1953

Letters through the void

Every letter in the city at thirty miles an hour

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The interiors are original speculative spaces and interpretive landmark adaptations, not measured reconstructions.