Historic Inwood – The Seaman Drake Arch

BY Led Black (@Led_Black)

Before Uptown became the initial stopping point for immigrants from all over the globe, Inwood Hill was home to some of the world’s richest families. Folks such as Macy’s founder Isador Straus and Elisha Brooks, founder of Brooks Brothers, among many others lived in opulent splendor right in this very neighborhood. One relic of that history is the Seaman Drake Arch on Broadway near 215^th Street. From myinwood.net: “The 35-foot tall, 20 foot deep marble arch was built as the gateway to a grand hilltop estate owned by the Seaman family in 1855. According to a turn of the century history of the Inwood, the arch is said to be an exact scale replica of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.” The mansion itself is no longer there; the Park Terrace Gardens apartment complex has taken its place but the Seaman Drake Arch is one of the last remaining artifacts of that era.

Thanks to myinwood.net, gothamist.com and ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com for pics and info.

Also Check Out: Heights History – Hilltop Park

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