Monday, June 27, 2016

Belvedere Castle Central Park



Mo “Well it has been a bit since we spoke about stuff.”
Sa “True. It has been hot. Also pop pop and mom have been busy doing other things.”





Mo “So what are we going to talk about today.”
Sa “We did go to Central Park again. Do you remember what we discovered?”

Mo “Mmmm. We saw a bunch of humans. Passed a lot of hot dogs and food carts. But pop pop and mom packed our own snacks this time.”
Sa “You don’t remember the castle?”









Mo “Oh yea. It wasn’t as big as some of the ones while we lived with the white hot dogs”
Sa “Those were bratwursts and it was in Germany.”

Mo “Yep that was some good food and big castles.”
Sa “So true but do not sell the one in central park short it is really neat considering.”



Mo “Considering what?”
Sa “Glad you asked let me give you the history lesson for this week.”

Mo “Oh no fair you set me up for that one.”

Sa “Indeed I did. Originally designed in 1865 by two people named Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould. Belvedere Castle was intended to be a Victorian Folly, a fantasy structure that provides a great backdrop and views however there was no real purpose for the building itself.”
Mo “Really? When space is important people did not live in this castle?”


Sa “Good question, no with a strong stone façade, grand turret and flag, the castle was meant to be just a stunning attraction in Central Park.”

Mo “What about the other side that does not look like the other castles we have seen?”

Sa “Honestly, you are hot today. The original plans for the building included another elaborate two-story structure on the site of today’s pavilion, but money concerns stopped construction and left the castle in its present state.”
Mo “Do they use the castle for something else now?”

Sa “In 1919 the United States Weather Bureau moved the Central Park Observatory to the castle. Before that weather measurements were taken from the Arsenal at Fifth Avenue and 64th Street. The Weather Bureau enclosed the castle and altered the turret’s shape to accommodate their scientific instruments.”





Mo “I didn’t see big electric stuff or monitors there?”
Sa “There is a reason for that. They closed that part in the early 1960’s. The empty building was left to deteriorate until 1983, when the Central Park Conservancy replaced the original turret, rebuilt the pavilions, and converted the castle into a visitor’s center. The Henry Luce Nature Observatory in the castle, created in 1996, provides interactive nature exhibits inside the castle as well as bird-watching kits, which can be used throughout the park.”




Mo “In the end of it all your saying if you get the chance take the time to come see the castle in Central Park.”
Sa “Definitely. It is worth the walk.”



 MoSa “And for all those humans who like the images here and want to see more you can visit our moms site to view or even purchase images from the link below. Remember all purchases helps our puppy parents buy treats.”

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