New York: A Guide to the Metropolis

Book info: New York: A Guide to the Metropolis (Paperback, 559 pages) – Mcgraw-Hill, 1994. Language: English.

The book that has been called ``the best walking tour guide of the city'' is back in a revised and updated second edition, certain to be as big a best-seller as the first! This walking tour guide captures the variety of architectural styles that can be found in New York's public buildings, residences, and commercial structures--brought to life in nearly 300 new and vintage photographs and engravings that will intrigue residents of New York and tourists alike. But this is far more than a compilation of buildings: its twenty walking tours provide an insider's look at the architecture of New York City that is unique to this guidebook. Easy-to-follow street maps make this an ideal walking companion to the city. Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Review Covering every area of Manhattan--from Battery Park to Central Park, from Washington Square to Times Square--the fascinating architectural history of New York is illuminated in this comprehensive walking-tour guidebook. Essential reading for both native New Yorkers and tourists alike, New York: A Guide to the Metropolis unveils the boundless diversity of Gotham's architectural wonders. The book is chock-full of facts and detailed descriptions, and illustrated with nearly 300 vintage photographs and engravings that bring old New York back to life. Examples of surviving 17th-century Dutch Colonial architecture, historic neighborhoods, and buildings displaying virtually every architectural style known in the United States are highlighted. Twenty walking tours, ranging from two to five hours in length, explore the most fascinating landmarks, structures, and important sites in the city, all of which are clearly marked on easy-to-follow street maps. From the Back Cover NEW YORK--A GUIDE TO THE METROPOLIS

Relive the exciting architectural history of a city brimming with variety and vitality!

The fascinating architectural history of New York unfolds before your eyes in this acclaimed walking tour guide, full of riveting facts and information for natives and tourists alike. Used on virtually every walking tour of New York city, "highly recommended" by THE NEW YORK TIMES, and the book of choice of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, NEW YORK: A GUIDE TO THE METROPOLIS is your ideal companion as you set out to discover the rich architecture of the city.

And what an adventure it will be! Beginning in lower Manhattan and moving uptown to the Upper East Side and West Side, you'll come upon hundreds of important historical sites and landmarks representing 300 years of the city's growth and development. Revealing trips to Brooklyn and Queens spotlight examples of surviving 17th-century Dutch Colonial architecture, historic neighborhoods, and a treasure trove of buildings displaying virtually every architectural style. And, you'll enjoy such unique features as:
* All 20 walking tours marked on practical, easy-to-follow street maps, and travel directions and landmark designations noted throughout
* Nearly 300 vintage photogrphs and engravings of former sites along the tours that bring old New York to life
* Rare historical details not found in other guidebooks, including the recently discovered African Burial Ground and the Commons behind City Hall and newly unearthed urban archeological sites in lower Manhattan.

For a fascinating picture of major New York neighborhoods, from Battery Park City to Tudor City, from Washington Square to Times Square, from the recently designated Ladies' Mile Historic District to the urban oasis of Roosevelt Island, this book unveils the infinite variety of architectural surprises that are only a short walk away!

Widely recognized as a leading authority on New York's history and architecture, Gerard R. Wolfe has authored several books and lectured extensively on the subject, and has conducted walking tours of New York and its environs for over 20 years.