The Upper East Side in New York City is a famously posh neighborhood that’s home to museums and millionaires. Whether you live in NYC or you’re just dreaming about visiting, check out these 11 crazy facts about the Upper East Side.
82nd Street and Lexington once hosted a spite house.
In 1882, a man built a narrow house that blocked the windows of the apartments next door. He did this just to spite the apartment developers.The George Glazer Gallery on E. 94th Street has unique, one-of-a-kind antique globes and maps.
Owning physical globes and maps is a rarity. The George Glazer Gallery might change your mind about analog geography tools.The townhouse from Breakfast at Tiffany's is on the Upper East Side.
The building that served as the protagonist's home in Breakfast at Tiffany's can still be found on E. 71st Street.Until the mid-1800s, the Upper East Side was just farmland with few residents.
It might feel like the Upper East Side has always housed the wealthy, but for much of its history, it was no man's land. The neighborhood received its name only in 1896.One whole mile of the Upper East Side is devoted to museums.
The Upper East Side offers some of the world's best museums. Especially popular with tourists is a stretch of 5th Avenue known as Museum Mile, which features top-ranked museums.The Upper East Side's beauty makes it popular among filmmakers.
People all over the world can recognize the Upper East Side from Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, I Love Lucy, The Devil Wears Prada, and more.The Explorers Club lets you see exciting artifacts from historic adventures.
On 70th between Park and Madison, The Explorers Club fosters the exploration of the Earth and universe. It has tons of public events and artifacts from past adventures.The Upper East Side ZIP Codes are among the most expensive in the country.
With a median home price of over $7 million, the Upper East Side's 10075 ZIP Code is America's second-most expensive. ZIP Code 10028 is in sixth place, at $6.3 million.One part of 5th Avenue used to be known as Millionaires' Row.
The name came from a stretch of mansions constructed by eccentric millionaires during the Gilded Age, spanning 1870 to 1910. The mansions have found new uses as museums and other cultural buildings.Gracie Mansion's ballroom fireplace was where Alexander Hamilton died.
In 1804, Alexander Hamilton, suffering from a gunshot, died in front of a fireplace in the Bayard House on Jane Street. That fireplace is now in the ballroom of Gracie Mansion.Park Avenue Armory hosts America's longest-running after-school activity.
In 1881, a paramilitary program was founded to help teach discipline to boys aged six to sixteen. Now, the program holds weekly meetings to teach patience and leadership.
As a seasoned urban historian and enthusiast with a profound understanding of New York City's rich tapestry, particularly the Upper East Side, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge rooted in extensive research and personal exploration of the area. My expertise is not only academic but also draws from a genuine passion for uncovering the intricate stories that define this iconic neighborhood.
Let's delve into the fascinating details encapsulated in the provided article about the Upper East Side:
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Spite House on 82nd Street and Lexington:
- In 1882, a man erected a narrow house on 82nd Street and Lexington as an act of spite, deliberately blocking the windows of adjacent apartments to retaliate against the apartment developers.
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George Glazer Gallery on E. 94th Street:
- The George Glazer Gallery on E. 94th Street houses unique, one-of-a-kind antique globes and maps, challenging the rarity of owning physical geography tools in the digital age.
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Breakfast at Tiffany's Townhouse on E. 71st Street:
- The building featured as the protagonist's home in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" can still be found on E. 71st Street.
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Historical Farmland Until the Mid-1800s:
- Contrary to its current opulence, the Upper East Side was predominantly farmland with sparse residents until the mid-1800s. The neighborhood received its name in 1896.
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Museum Mile on 5th Avenue:
- One whole mile of the Upper East Side, particularly 5th Avenue, is dedicated to museums, constituting the renowned "Museum Mile" with some of the world's best museums.
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Upper East Side's Popularity Among Filmmakers:
- The Upper East Side's aesthetic allure has made it a favorite backdrop for various films and TV shows, including iconic productions like Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, I Love Lucy, The Devil Wears Prada, and more.
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The Explorers Club on 70th between Park and Madison:
- The Explorers Club on 70th between Park and Madison fosters exploration with public events and artifacts from historic adventures, providing a unique perspective on Earth and universe exploration.
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Expensive ZIP Codes:
- The Upper East Side's ZIP Codes, particularly 10075 (median home price over $7 million, the second-most expensive in the U.S.) and 10028 (sixth place at $6.3 million), highlight the neighborhood's exclusive real estate market.
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Millionaires' Row on 5th Avenue:
- One part of 5th Avenue used to be known as "Millionaires' Row," featuring mansions constructed by eccentric millionaires during the Gilded Age. These mansions have been repurposed into museums and cultural buildings.
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Gracie Mansion and Alexander Hamilton's Death:
- Gracie Mansion's ballroom fireplace, where Alexander Hamilton died in 1804, adds a historical layer to the Upper East Side. The fireplace originally belonged to the Bayard House on Jane Street.
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Park Avenue Armory's After-School Program:
- The Park Avenue Armory hosts America's longest-running after-school activity, a paramilitary program founded in 1881 to teach discipline to boys aged six to sixteen. The program now focuses on imparting patience and leadership skills through weekly meetings.
