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| 3343 Horsedrawn carriage by the park |
Posted on 29.11.2015, 09.01.2020
Located in middle-upper Manhattan, Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States as well as one of the most filmed locations in the world. Opened in 1857, it was expanded and improved after the plans of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux until 1873, when it reached its current size. While planting and land form in much of the park appear natural, it was almost entirely landscaped during the 1850s and 1860s. It contains seven lakes and ponds that have been created artificially by damming natural seeps and flows, several wooded sections, in addition to lawns, the "meadows", and many minor grassy areas.
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| 2079 The Bethesda Fountain in Central Park |
Main attractions of the park include landscapes such as the Ramble and Lake, Hallett Nature Sanctuary, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and Sheep Meadow; amusement attractions such as Wollman Rink, Central Park Carousel, and the Central Park Zoo; formal spaces such as the Central Park Mall and Bethesda Terrace; and the Delacorte Theater, which hosts Shakespeare in the Park programs in the summertime. The park also has sports facilities, including the North Meadow Recreation Center, basketball courts, baseball fields, and soccer fields.
Bethesda Terrace overlook The Lake, and in the center of the terrace is Bethesda Fountain, constructed in 1859-1864. The pool is centered by a fountain sculpture designed by Emma Stebbins in 1868 and unveiled in 1873. The bronze statue depicts a female winged angel touching down upon the top of the fountain. Beneath her are four cherubs representing Temperance, Purity, Health, and Peace. Also called the Angel of the Waters, the statue refers to the Gospel of John, where there is a description of an angel blessing the Pool of Bethesda, giving it healing powers.
In the late 19th century, West and East Drives was a popular place for carriage rides, though only five percent of the city was able to afford the carriage. One of the main attractions in the park's early years was the introduction of the "Carriage Parade", a daily display of horse-drawn carriages that traversed the park. The introduction of the automobile caused the carriage industry to die out by WWI, though the carriage-horse tradition was revived in 1935.
About the stamps
On the postcard 2079
About the first stamp, featuring a portrait of George Washington, I wrote here. About the second stamp, depicting the Purple Heart Medal,I wrote here. About the last stamp I wrote here.
On the postcard 3343
The stamp is a Global Forever one, and features a photo of a poinsettia, taken from above to capture the beauty of the green leaves, red bracts, and yellow flowers in the center of the plant. The art director for this stamp was William J. Gicker. Greg Breeding designed the stamp with an existing photograph by Betsy Pettet.
References
Central Park - Wikipedia
Bethesda Terrace and Fountain - Wikipedia
Sender 2079: Denise
Sent from Greenvale (New York / United States), on 18.02.2014
Sender 3343: Marius Vasilescu
Sent from New York (New York / United States), on 23.12.2019
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