Architecture

The Arch

Washington Square Park opened to the public in 1827. Before the beautiful arch that stands in the park today, there was a temporary arch designed by Stanford White. The arch was made out of wood and stucco. In 1891, it was replaced by the current arch made out of marble. The marble arch was decorated with designs of George Washington, Alexander Sterling Calder, and Herman MacNeil. There are also many different monuments in the park that were designed by different architects. There is a fountain, bust of steel innovator Alexander Lyman Holley designed by John Quincy Adams Ward, and many more structures across the park.