Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)

Eighth Avenue is a major road that goes north and south on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. Below 59th Street, it only has traffic going north. It was one of the original streets planned in the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 to go all the way up Manhattan.

At 59th Street or Columbus Circle, the street changes its name to Central Park West. This part of the street marks the west edge of Central Park. Further north, above 110th Street at Frederick Douglass Circle, the street is called Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Finally, north of 155th Street, it joins the Harlem River Drive.

Description

Eighth Avenue starts in the West Village at Abingdon Square where Hudson Street turns into Eighth Avenue, meeting Bleecker Street. It runs north for 44 blocks through Chelsea, the Garment District, Hell's Kitchen, Midtown, and the Theater District, ending at Columbus Circle at 59th Street, where it becomes Central Park West. North of Frederick Douglass Circle, it is called Frederick Douglass Boulevard and ends near the Harlem River Drive north of 155th Street.

The New York City Subway has an IND Eighth Avenue Line under the avenue, serving several train lines. Many bus routes also run along Eighth Avenue, connecting different parts of the city.

The southern part of Eighth Avenue, from Abingdon Square to Columbus Circle, has been one-way northbound since 1954. This area, especially through Greenwich Village and Chelsea, is known for its community spaces and events.

North of Columbus Circle, the road is called Central Park West and runs along the western edge of Central Park for 51 blocks, ending at Frederick Douglass Circle. It has two-way traffic and unique address numbers. Many famous buildings and homes line Central Park West.

Above Frederick Douglass Circle, the avenue is Frederick Douglass Boulevard, renamed in 1977. It ends near the Harlem River and has seen many changes, with new buildings and restaurants.

Points of interest

Eighth Avenue in Manhattan has many interesting places to see. You can visit the Fashion Institute of Technology at 26th/27th Streets, and famous spots like Madison Square Garden and Penn Station between 31st and 33rd Streets. Other notable locations include the James Farley Post Office, the New York Times Building at 40th Street, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal between 40th and 42nd Streets.

You might also find One Worldwide Plaza, Hearst Tower, and the Soros Foundation and Open Society Institute headquarters on West 59th Street interesting. At 111 Eighth Avenue, you can see a big building that used to be a terminal for trucks, now home to the East Coast headquarters of Google. This building is an example of Art Deco style.