[Constructed 1862] Designer: Calvert Vaux 1824-1895 •
England
Architectural Highlights Dimensions: Length - 30 feet:
Height: 11 feet 10 inches. Revetment (surface): Large blocks
of Manhattan schist.
Located at the gateway to Strawberry Fields
is the Riftstone Arch. Horseback riding is still popular in the heart of
New York City in Central Park.
Familiar primarily to those on horseback
or the occasional jogger, the Riftstone Arch,
nestled as it is into bordering shrubbery
and rocky terrain remains obscured from
any other view than the one seen here. The Dakota, which is directly across from
the Riftstone, can barely be seen rising
beyond the archway’s bridle path.
This rustic structure was built with the
use of little or no mortar and of large stone
block. The shrubs and boulders surrounding
this unique arch conceal abutments or
supports, which further give it its natural
appearance.
