McGowan’s Pass

Today McGowan's Pass is marked only with two rock outcrops; more than 100 years ago, it played an important role in early American history.
McGowan’s Pass served as a site of military defense both during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
Here, Kingsbridge Road, which once served as the main road through Manhattan, dipped into a valley peppered with rocks. The road itself, as well as the hilly topography, made this an important strategic site for the British during the Revolutionary War. Decades later, Americans built fortifications here during the War of 1812. Fearing a British attack from the north, they guarded McGowan’s Pass with a stone gatehouse anchored to the rock outcrops, which controlled access to the main road.
When Central Park was built, designers left the remnants of McGowan’s Pass as a testament to the site’s historical importance. The pass gets its name from the McGowan family, who ran a popular local pub in this area in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Things you can do here

Self-Guided Tours
Fort Landscapes Tour
Step into history and see how this area near the Harlem Meer played a key role during the American Revolution and War of 1812.
Tags: Woodlands

Tour
Northern Forts Virtual Tour
History buffs will love this exploration of the Fort Landscape in the northern part of Central Park.
Tags: Staff Picks
Read more

Things to See and Do
8 Secrets of Central Park
Tags: Tips for Visiting / Park Experts

Park History
Stories from Before the Creation of Central Park
Tags: Park Design / History / Park Experts

Park History
The History of Central Park’s North End
Get to know this area’s rich past, which includes appearances from General George Washington and several military fortifications—one of which can still be visited today.
Tags: History