☞ REMEMBER: Jet at the Harlem River c. 1843

The print from 1843 of the Harlem River shows the "jet d'eau" in the distance that used to be a tourist attraction in the mid 19th century.  Before the High Bridge was completed in 1848, a three foot wide pipe carried water from the Croton aqueduct under the river and apparently the engineers periodically released a jet of water 115 feet into the air to the delight of boaters enjoying the scenery.  Note also on the hilltop to the far left is probably the Morris-Jumel Mansion since this would have been the key landmark to the area at the time.  The underwater pipe would eventually be enclosed within the new bridge and thus one of the Harlem River's curiosities would be replaced by another. Photo courtesy NYPL