You probably love Gramercy Park, but were you aware that it was once a dense swamp?

Tucked away in the heart of Manhattan, Gramercy Park is one of the city’s most exclusive and mysterious green spaces. Established in 1831 by developer and open-space advocate Samuel B. Ruggles, the park was built on what was once swampy farmland.

*Samuel B. Ruggles - Photo: WikiCommons*

*Peg Leg Peter Stuyvesant - Photo: WikiCommons*

He bought the property, 22 acres of what was then a farm called "Gramercy Farm", from the heirs of James Duane, a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant. Ruggles had a bold vision to create a serene, private park surrounded by elegant homes for residents only.

*St. John's Park. - Photo: NYPL Digital Archives*

It was the second private square created in the city, after St. John's Park, which was laid out by the parish of Trinity Church further downtown.

*34 Gramercy Park West. - Photo: NYPL Digital Archives*

Numbering of the lots began at No. 1 on the northwest corner, on Gramercy Park West, and continued counter-clockwise. No. 34 is the oldest existing co-operative apartment building in the city.

*Early Lexington Avenue. - Photo: NYPL Digital Archives*

He also laid out Lexington Avenue (named for the Battle of Lexington and Concorde) and Irving Place (after his buddy Washington Irving) which didn’t exist at the time!

Since 1831, Gramercy Park has been privately owned and maintained by the residents of the 39 original buildings that surround it. Each lot is granted two highly coveted keys.

Members of The Players Club, the National Arts Club, and Calvary Church, as well as the Brotherhood Synagogue also have keys.

Did you know the statue at the center of the park is Edwin Booth, one of America’s greatest Shakespearean actors and brother of the infamous John Wilkes Booth?

In 1980, Gramercy Park was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Today, Gramercy Park remains one of only two private parks in NYC, and entry is still restricted to key-holding residents of the 39 buildings surrounding it.

*Bob Dylan, who owned a brownstone off Gramercy Park. - Photo: LOC*

Gramercy Park has become a haven for artists, writers, actors, and the well-connected. The iconic Players Club and the National Arts Club still sit proudly on the park’s edge, honoring its bohemian and theatrical roots.

*Gramercy Park today. - Photo: WikiCommons*

Despite the city’s ever-changing energy, Gramercy has remained a genteel pocket of Old New York… equal parts history, charm, and well-guarded keys.

Pro Tip: Gramercy Park opens up to the public on one day a year, Christmas Eve!

Gramercy Park

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