Before Central Park

by Sara Cedar Miller

Winner - 2023 John Brinkerhoff Jackson Book Prize, UVA Center for Cultural LandscapesWith more than eight hundred sprawling green acres in the middle of one of the world’s densest cities, Central Park is an urban masterpiece. Designed in the middle of the nineteenth century by the landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it is a model for city parks worldwide. But before it became Central Park, the land was the site of farms, businesses, churches, wars, and burial grounds—and home to many different kinds of New Yorkers.This book is the authoritative account of the place that would become Central Park. From the first Dutch family to settle on the land through the political crusade to create America’s first major urban park, Sara Cedar Miller chronicles two and a half centuries of history. She tells the stories of Indigenous hunters, enslaved people and enslavers, American patriots and British loyalists, the Black landowners of Seneca Village, Irish pig farmers, tavern owners, Catholic sisters, Jewish protesters, and more. Miller unveils a British fortification and camp during the Revolutionary War, a suburban retreat from the yellow fever epidemics at the turn of the nineteenth century, and the properties that a group of free Black Americans used to secure their right to vote. Tales of political chicanery, real estate speculation, cons, and scams stand alongside democratic idealism, the striving of immigrants, and powerfully human lives. Before Central Park shows how much of the history of early America is still etched upon the landscapes of Central Park today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, New York

901 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2022

About the author

Sara Cedar Miller has been the official photographer and historian for the Central Park Conservancy since 1984. She is the author of Abrams' Central Park: An American Masterpiece. She lives in New York.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Sara Cedar Miller first joined the Central Park Conservancy as a photographer in 1984 and has written extensively about Central Park in New York City. Her research and knowledge about the park land and surrounding areas is extensive. A definitive work, "Before Central Park" is divided into three parts: Topography; Real Estate; and The Idea of a Park. Black and white maps, paintings, photographs, and genealogical charts illustrate the text.

From the first European settlers (1625 - 1664) to the wars fought there, to issues of eminent domain, all are discussed in detail. Especially fascinating are the stories of the people who lived there, some better known than others, whose achievements and losses are recorded here.

After the Revolution, New York's population exploded and land values soared. In 1811 a grid was put in place for the construction of roads. 40% of the homes were found to be in the middle of streets.

Especially of interest is the detailed story of Seneca Village, a community formed by free black Americans in 1825. They dispersed when the land was cleared in 1856 in preparation for the park.

As New York grew, it became apparent that there was not much green space and the city fathers looked to London and Paris.

The first battle was a five year process to choose a site and legalize it. The second battle was over its design.

In 1858 the landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, presented their romantic ideas for the park creating a green space all could enjoy.

Highly recommended. A readable and fascinating history of an iconic landmark.

My thanks to the publisher, Columbia University Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Mariama Thorlu-Bangura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been interested in the history of Central Park for a long time. Years ago, I read a book that provided an in-depth study of the park's features, along with drawings of said features. What it did not cover was the people who used to live in what became Central Park. "Before Central Park" provides that story in minute detail. Miller gives a topographical explanation of the land, then goes on to give a thorough history of the individuals that lived on that land. Of particular interest to me was her discussion of the African American community that lived in the park, in what is known now as Seneca Village. This book was the first time I was able to read about this community in depth, and it was definitely a treat for me. Fans of social history, with architectural and landscape history mixed in, will devour this book. It is true tour de force!

[Eric Osserman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical masterpiece of so much original research.
Sara has codified her life’s work, the history of Central Park. Priceless stories abound as the story of the city, and the founding and development of the country, flows through the park.
As park historian, Sara has much to share about Seneca Village, populated primarily by black NYers. She unearthed much of what we know today about the region.
As a NYC native related to two of the park’s most visible benefactors, as a Central Park visitor 100s, if not a 1000, times, I am grateful for the academic hunger, and the love for the park in all its majesty, that Sara brought to this work. As an added bonus, her photographic skill enhances the story-telling.
I got to meet Sara when she presented to my NYC club. She really brought her scholarship to life, as she does in Before Central Park.
Thank you, Sara!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has instantly become the definitive history of how NYC's Central Park came to be

[E W · Rating 4 out of 5]

On this site. . . . a lot happened

Before Central Park is a fascinating account of how Central Park came to be; it also uses the park (and “pre-park”) as a remarkably effective vehicle for telling the story of the United States. The book starts off a bit slowly—as in, at least as far back as the Cenozoic period (because the typography matters a lot in this story). Miller moves fairly quickly through the Colonial and Revolutionary eras, to focus primarily on the 19th century. The history of the land and its transformation to park encompasses enslavement and freedom; political life and enfranchisement and disenfranchisement; agriculture (including the “free produce” movement that was intended to reduce reliance on goods produced through enslaved labor); economic shifts and labor history; education; religion and burial customs; immigration and nativist sentiment; the displacement of peoples, from Native Americans to Black property holders; public health; environmental destruction and conservation; and infrastructure such as water and sanitation.

The descriptions of the parkland and surrounding environs are quite vivid—the description of sugar refining and bone boiling, for example). There are also plenty of examples of Manhattan real estate mania, as well as dramatic reversals of fortune, cons, corruption, and trickery.

I was most interested in the history of Seneca Village, a community of Black property owners, and the book delivers on that.

Some famous characters, of course, make appearances, but Miller also introduces us to every day individuals and their lives. In addition to African American history, she also focuses on women’s history—including some women who should be more well-known, such as Lanaw Benson, who became the first African-American to own land in the pre-park—using the purchase to free herself from enslavement; real estate mogul Elizabeth Gloucester, who became one of the wealthiest Black women of her day in the mid-19th century; and Mary Pinkney, one of the wealthiest women in the country at the time of her death in 1908 (again through shrewd real estate investments and tax strategy), but dismissed by the NYT in her obituary as a “spinster.”

The book is extensively researched and thoroughly documented. It is possible that no one knows more about Central Park and its history than the author, who is historian emerita and former official photographer at the Central Park Conservancy.

[Monika Schrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most comprehensive and interesting overviews of the area in and around what is now Central Park. Sara brings to life key figures without straying into a biography, and draws the strands of history, relationships, topography, climate and culture into a fine quilt illuminating these aspects that unite to form Central Park and so much more of New York's and American history and culture. This could likely be a college course on its own, and certainly it fills in gaps of knowledge or unattached strands other books have dealt with in a less satisfying way.

[Sara]

Having been in and out of Central Park since I was a small child, I knew that any history of the park would be extensive and fascinating. I was very impressed by the amount and depth of the research that went into this book! It would totally work as a textbook for a course on Central Park which surely one of the NYC colleges must offer. If not, they now have the perfect tool for doing so.

[Scott Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I had a more intimate knowledge of the Park. Or if I was studying for my Real Estate license. But I did learn a number of facts about the founding of the park, the proposed Harlem canal, the addition of the 106-110 st blocks, the Jewish cemetery which was moved, the very wealthy woman real estate developer, etc.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miller packs the book with an unbelieveable amount of vital information for scholars and researchers. It's clear that this magnum opus will be her legacy and will undoubtedly become a repetitively cited source for others. That said, the book is not a light read and should be listed as a scholarly resource for academics.

[Thor O’Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing can be a bit academic and hard to follow but this book is a wealth of detailed NYC history. Helpful to read or just focus on the chapters that you are interested in. Also the color photos are fantastic.

[Joe Rousmaniere · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative. But it drags.

[Irwin Weiss, MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone interested in how Central Park in New York came to be this is the book. What we take for granted today as the most beautiful park to do everything in was certainly no guarantee to exist. This beautifully illustrated book with many photographs of historical documents and current views tells us all about how the park came to be. There is a tremendous amount of detail which at times can be overwhelming but we learn how complex the undertaking was. In this book there is also so much to learn about early New York. Everyone is mentioned from the early Dutch settlers to the Black community that existed in what is now the west side of the park to the land speculation that went crazy in the few years before construction began. Also we learn of the topography of the park, some natural, some constructed and the role of water for the city and how the need for water was part of the construction. Overall a detailed but fascinating study.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in-depth and detailed history of Central Park. Absolutely fascinating overall although I admit that sometimes the sheer mass of detail felt a bit overwhelming, and I was less interested in some parts than others. But that’s me rather than the book which is a magisterial work of city, garden and social history.

[Mike Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential piece of NYC history.

[Marianne Burbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely informative and well researched…An important resource and reflection of American history.It was difficult to absorb it all though….

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5: skimmed some of the detailed transfers of property owners.

[Laura Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal journey through NYC History

I loved this book, learning in detail about how NYC and Central Park came to be: the players, the politics, the real estate. Great writing and beautiful photographs. Thoroughly researched.