[Constructed 1847-1851]
Architect: Martin E. Thompson
1786-1877 • USA
This historic building, purposely designed to
resemble a medieval castle, with its eight
battlements, originally housed munitions
for the New York State National Guard.
It predates Central Park and is one of the oldest
structures within the Park grounds.
Originally the first home of the American
Museum of Natural History, today it serves
as the headquarters of the City of New York
Parks and Recreation with offices for the
Central Park Wildlife Conservation Center.
Its entrance flanked by painted white muskets
has two cast iron replicas of military drums on
either side of the doorway. In the lobby, murals
painted by WPA artist Allan Saalburg during
1935 and 1936, depict scenes of old
New York and Park views.
