34th Street (Manhattan)

34th Street (Manhattan) is a major crosstown thoroughfare in the New York City borough of Manhattan, renowned as a premier commercial, retail, and transportation hub. It runs for approximately two miles from the FDR Drive on the East River to Twelfth Avenue near the Hudson River, traversing iconic neighborhoods like Murray Hill, Koreatown, and the Garment District. The street is globally famous for landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Macy's Herald Square, and Penn Station, making it one of the city's most visited and recognizable corridors.

Geography and description

34th Street forms a critical east-west axis across midtown Manhattan, officially beginning at the FDR Drive and terminating at Twelfth Avenue and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The street intersects with major north-south avenues including Park Avenue, Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue at Herald Square, Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), Seventh Avenue, Eighth Avenue, and Ninth Avenue. Its path cuts through distinct districts, passing the residential enclaves of Murray Hill in the east, the bustling retail core around Macy's, the wholesale fashion hub of the Garment District, and the far west side's developing Hudson Yards. The street's topography is relatively flat, facilitating heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and it serves as a primary conduit to major infrastructure like the Lincoln Tunnel and the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.

History

The street's route was established as part of the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, which laid out Manhattan's grid above Houston Street. Its development accelerated in the late 19th century with the construction of the First Madison Square Garden in 1879 and the original Pennsylvania Station, designed by McKim, Mead & White and opened in 1910. The 1930s were transformative, marked by the 1931 completion of the Empire State Building and the expansion of Macy's into the world's largest store. The 1963 demolition of the original Penn Station spurred the historic preservation movement, leading to the designation of the Empire State Building as a National Historic Landmark. Throughout the 20th century, 34th Street evolved from a mixed-use corridor into a dense commercial powerhouse, further cemented by modern developments like Hudson Yards.

Landmarks and notable buildings

The street is dominated by iconic structures, most prominently the Empire State Building at the intersection with Fifth Avenue. The block between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue is occupied by Macy's Herald Square, the flagship of Macy's, Inc. and an anchor of the holiday season. The western segment is defined by Penn Station and the adjacent Madison Square Garden, a major sports and entertainment venue. Other significant edifices include the Hotel Pennsylvania, the Church of the Incarnation, and the James A. Farley Post Office, which now houses part of Penn Station. The eastern terminus is near the United Nations Headquarters, while new towers in Hudson Yards, such as 30 Hudson Yards, continue to reshape the skyline.

Transportation

34th Street is a critical transit nexus, served by the New York City Subway with major stations including 34th Street–Penn Station on the , 34th Street–Penn Station on the , 34th Street–Herald Square on the , and 34th Street–Hudson Yards on the . It is a key bus corridor for MTA Regional Bus Operations and provides direct access to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The street is a primary approach to the Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey and lies near the Heliport at Hudson River Park. The 34th Street–Hudson Yards station and the High Line park integrate modern pedestrian and rail access.

In popular culture

The street has been immortalized in numerous films, songs, and literary works, most famously as the setting for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the classic film Miracle on 34th Street. The Empire State Building has been featured in pivotal scenes in movies like King Kong and Sleepless in Seattle. Television shows such as Project Runway have been filmed in the Garment District, and the street is referenced in songs by artists including Billy Joel and Jay-Z. Annually, the lighting of the Empire State Building's tower and the holiday windows at Macy's draw international attention, cementing its status as a global cultural symbol.

Category:Streets in Manhattan Category:Transportation in New York City