Since I was a kid, I've always loved maps. When I was a messenger, I used to kill time by hanging out at the Rand McNally book store on 43rd Street. I have a closet full of maps in my apartment. I'm not sure I've ever thrown one out. The New York City Public Library Map Room is one of those cool places that not everyone knows about. Back though, when I was in high school, and a big user of the library, the Fifth Avenue building, the jewel in the crown, was in a state of decrepitude, (as of course, was the city). It was like one big episode of Kojak. I'm pretty sure I remember pails being used to catch the water leaking from the ceiling in the breath-taking main reading room.
In 2005, as part of the continuing renaissance of the library, the Map Room underwent a beautiful restoration. Some beautiful pics here.
Gothamist reports that the Library will be having an exhibition of maps showing the development of New York's shoreline, from the founding of the city by the Dutch, to the present. Cool!
Comments