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It’s no secret that Union Square is one of the buzziest neighborhoods in Manhattan right now. This bustling neighborhood is home to one of the busiest subway stations in the city, a booming business district and a whole lot of foot traffic.
But the millions who traverse this neighborhood each year might not be aware of the secrets beneath their feet. From historical facts to transit marvels, here are some of the most interesting fun facts about Union Square.
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1. It was designed by the same people as Central Park
Union Square Park has long been a must-visit spot in NYC—even longer than Central Park. Union Square Park first opened in opened in 1839 and then was redesigned in 1872 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the same team behind Central Park’s beloved landscapes.
Vaux and Olmsted were charged with executing a new vision for the park. They removed a fence and hedges that enclosed the space, opening it up to accommodate mass meetings, NYC Parks explains. They also planted trees and added an official reviewing stand.
2. It was home to the first Labor Day Parade
That redesign turned out to be especially worthwhile, as just 10 years later, Union Square played an important role in the country’s first Labor Day celebration.
On September 5, 1882, a crowd of 10,000 workers paraded up Broadway and filed past that very reviewing stand, as NYC Parks documents. Shortly thereafter, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation to make Labor Day a national holiday. Though today’s Labor Day Parade doesn’t march through Union Square anymore, its roots will always be a part of the neighborhood.
3. The park was completely demolished in the 1920s
So much for that renovation. By 1928, Union Square was completely demolished to accommodate a new subway concourse. Above ground, developers straightened park paths, built a pavilion and a added a flagpole commemorating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
4. The subway platform moves
If you’re taking the 4, 5, 6, keep an eye out when a train enters the station. As the train arrives, you’ll notice a metal grate that automatically moves into place to fill the gap between the train and the platform. The track here is tightly curved, and while that wasn’t a problem when shorter trains first used the station in 1904, it presents a challenge with today’s trains, hence these moving grates (content creator Norberto Briceño explains the history in a fascinating video here).
5. That big clock has an important message
If you’ve ever wondered about the massive digital clock in Union Square, here’s the backstory: It started in 1999 as a public artwork called Metronome counting down the hours, minutes and seconds in a day. Then, as of September 19, 2020, the clock changed to a new piece showing exactly how long we have to act to prevent the worst effects of climate change from becoming irreversible, per Climate Clock’s website.
It measures in at 80 feet across and towers four stories above Union Square with a stark orange display meant to remind us of the urgent need for climate action.
6. It’s home to a temperance sculpture
On the west side of the park, look for a 19-foot sculpture of a woman with two children. One child helps her carry a jug of water while they look lovingly at one another. The fountain, while beautiful, contains a deeper message: It was intended to teach a lesson about religion and the temperance movement, which urged moderation in alcoholic consumption and eventually prohibition.
Dating back to 1881, this is one of the oldest sculptures in New York City’s park system—and among the few remaining temperance fountains in the nation. Though it’s no longer a working drinking fountain, it’s a fascinating historical artifact and a beautiful art piece.