Sixth Avenue

Sixth Avenue, officially designated as Avenue of the Americas since 1945, is a major north-south thoroughfare on the New York City island of Manhattan. It runs approximately four miles from Tribeca in Lower Manhattan to the southern edge of Central Park at Central Park South. The avenue is a vital commercial and transportation corridor, lined with iconic skyscrapers, corporate headquarters, and cultural institutions, forming a central spine through several of the city's most famous neighborhoods.

Route description

The avenue begins at the intersection of Franklin Street and Church Street, just north of the World Trade Center site. It proceeds northward through the Financial District, passing near landmarks like the African Burial Ground National Monument. As it enters Greenwich Village, it bisects the historic Jefferson Market Library and Grace Church area. Through Chelsea and the Garment District, it is flanked by major structures such as the New York City Department of Sanitation headquarters and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Its northern terminus is at Central Park South, facing the Grand Army Plaza and the Plaza Hotel.

History

The avenue's path was originally laid out as part of the Commissioners' Plan of 1811. Significant development began in the late 19th century with the construction of the IRT Sixth Avenue Line, an elevated railway. A major transformation occurred in the 1920s and 1930s when the Independent Subway System built the underground IND Sixth Avenue Line, leading to the demolition of the "El" and spurring commercial growth. In 1945, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia ceremonially renamed it Avenue of the Americas to promote Pan-Americanism, though the original name remains in common use. The 1960s and 1970s saw the rise of modernist skyscrapers like the CBS Building (now Black Rock) and the McGraw-Hill Building.

Transportation

The avenue is a primary transit corridor served by the IND Sixth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, with stations including West Fourth Street and Bryant Park. It is also a key route for MTA Regional Bus Operations buses, including the M5 and M7 lines. The avenue features dedicated lanes for bicycles and is a major artery for vehicular traffic, connecting to the Holland Tunnel and the Lincoln Tunnel via adjacent streets. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates the massive Port Authority Bus Terminal near its intersection with West 42nd Street.

Major intersections and landmarks

From south to north, key intersections and adjacent landmarks include Canal Street, near Artist & Fleas market; West 4th Street, adjacent to Washington Square Park; West 23rd Street, home to the Flatiron Building; and West 34th Street, site of Macy's Herald Square. The Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center complex dominate the blocks around West 50th Street. Further north, it passes the Museum of Modern Art and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine near West 110th Street before terminating at Central Park.

In popular culture

The avenue has been immortalized in numerous films, songs, and literary works. It is famously mentioned in the Simon & Garfunkel song "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" and serves as a backdrop in movies like *Breakfast at Tiffany's* and Ghostbusters. The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade proceeds along a nearby route, with its grandeur often associated with the midtown section. Literary references appear in works by Tom Wolfe and Jay McInerney, capturing its role as a symbol of Manhattan's bustling urban life and corporate culture.

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