Another spectacular run in we had while bicycling this weekend was seeing the Little Red Lighthouse at the base of the George Washington Bridge. Along the bike route of Riverside Drive, many cyclists and joggers take a detour around 178th Street to take a look at the lighthouse and the spectacular Hudson views. Built in 1880 on the New Jersey side, the lighthouse was dismantled in 1917 and erected on the New York City side in 1921.
By 1947, the government made the decision to no longer use the lighthouse and thus proceed the process that would eventually result in the demolition of the structure. By the time the famous children's book, The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge had already been written and locals rallied to preserve this icon of the past. This was extraordinary, for the powerful Landmarks Commission was yet to be formed and the sheer number of local preservationists saved the lighthouse on their own volition. The main underpass to the bike trail along the Hudson is at 96th Street, so rent your gear at West Side Bicycle and head up north. See previous post for bicycle rental information: LINK
No comments:
Post a Comment