The Mall & Literary Walk
![A view looking down the Mall under a canopy of elm trees](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x767_crop_center-center_none/Mall_20200521_AH9A7526.jpg)
The Mall is one of Central Park’s most significant landscapes and horticultural wonders.
This wide, straight path lined by two rows of American elm trees was designed by Park designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as a formal promenade and gathering space. Like many areas of the Park, visitors can experience this landscape in largely the same way they would have in the 19th century: strolling, sitting, people-watching, listening to music, contemplating monuments, and admiring trees.
Olmsted and Vaux called the Mall “an open-air hall of reception.” The designers arranged trees in regular rows and chose American elms because their curvy and overarching branches create an impression of an architectural space—some have compared it to the vaulting of a cathedral. This straight path, one of the few in the Park, connects entrances and landscapes in the south to points north, leading directly to Bethesda Terrace, the other premier gathering space, and the Ramble beyond.
The southern section of the Mall is known as Literary Walk because of the numerous statues of writers added there in the 19th century. In 2020, this stretch of the Mall became the site of the first new monument added to the Park in over 50 years, the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument.
The northern stretch of the Mall encompasses the Concert Ground, created in the 19th century as a place to enjoy classical and popular music. It originally featured a cast-iron bandstand designed by architect Jacob Wrey Mould. In 1923, it was replaced by a larger and more modern facility, the Naumberg Bandshell, which still hosts concerts and other performances. Just up the hill to the east is Rumsey Playfield, currently the Park’s main music venue, which hosts the performing arts festival SummerStage.
The Mall and all its different elements provide an important illustration of how the Park was designed as a social space. It was intended as a place for all New Yorkers, regardless of class or background, and the Mall was where they could all come together to enjoy nature, art, and culture.
![A view from a park bench, looking down the length of the Mall, with trees showing deep green summer leaves](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x990_crop_center-center_none/20200521_AH9A7527.jpg)
Support the Park
The Mall is a great example of the Central Park Conservancy’s breadth of responsibilities in the Park—arborists tend to its trees, conservators protect its monuments, and groundskeepers clear away any trash. Help the Conservancy continue this work.
Things you can do here
![A couple strolling the North Woods and leaf-peeping the autumn foliage](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/North-Woods-0278-1.jpg)
Guides
Guide to Fall Foliage in Central Park
Tags: Plants and Trees
![A pair of visitors stand on the shaded banks of the Ravine in a lush forest landscape.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Ravine_20200725_IMG_0066.jpg)
Guides
A Guide to Summering Safely in Central Park
Central Park provides New Yorkers a welcome escape from the intensity of NYC summers, but Park-goers should still take necessary precautions to stay cool, healthy, and hydrated during their visits.
Tags: Kids and Families / Health & Fitness / Wildlife
![Close-up shot of the Burnett Fountain, framed by flowers.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Burnett-Fountain-Summer-DSC_0129.jpg)
Guides
A Guide to Promenading in the Park, Bridgerton-Style
Dear Reader, Is there anything more delightful than a leisurely promenade through the verdant expanses of Central Park?
Tags: Highlights / Staff Picks
![Looking north at a roadway with Bethesda Arcade below and a horse carraige crossing above](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Bethesda-Arcade_20190304_010.jpg)
Self-Guided Tours
A Walk Through the Heart of Central Park
Journey through the center of Central Park.
Tags: Kids and Families / Art & Architecture
![Paulson 2014 Fall 7486 RT](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Paulson_2014_Fall_7486_RT.jpg)
Tours
Iconic Views of Central Park Tour
10:00 amVisit the iconic landmarks and landscapes that make Central Park the world’s most famous park.
Tags: History / Art & Architecture / Daily Tours
Also in the area
Read more
![CPC Slide SE WI 198801 01](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/CPCSlide_SE-WI_198801_01.jpg)
Park History
From the Archives: Winter in Central Park
Go back in time with us to the 1980s and '90s. Some things look very different. But New Yorkers’ love of ice skating in Central Park and the serene beauty of its snow-covered landscapes remain timeless.
Tags: Winter / History / Landscapes
![Looking across the Lake to Bethesda Terrace thronging with parkgoers](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/How-Central-Park-Was-Designed-as-a-Park-for-the-People.jpg)
Park History
How Central Park Was Designed as a Park for the People
Tags: Park Design / History
![Crowds at a concert in Central Park](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Concert-Meadow_final_Ruth-Orkin-Photo-Archive.jpg)
Park History
Concerts of Note: Central Park’s Musical Highlights
Central Park has a storied history as a concert venue, welcoming musicians of all genres to its iconic lawns. Large or small, under clear or cloudy skies, music-making has been an essential part of the Park from the beginning.
Tags: History / Art Lovers
![Two young women pose for a selfie atop Belvedere Castle](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/The-Beginner’s-Guide-to-Photography-in-Central-Park.jpg)
Things to See and Do
The Beginner’s Guide to Photography in Central Park
Learn insider tips on when, where, and how to get the best snapshots in New York City’s backyard.
Tags: First-Time Visitors
![Looking down the length of the Mall with sunlight streaming through the dark limbs of American Elms](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/The-Woman-Suffrage-Monument-in-Context.jpg)
Park History
The Woman Suffrage Monument in Context
Installed in Central Park in 2020, the monument honors women’s rights pioneers Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Tags: Monuments
![Final Paulson Bethesda DSC 5506](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Final_Paulson_Bethesda_DSC_5506.jpg)
Park History
Bethesda Fountain’s Place in LGBTQ+ History
As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain, delve into the story of the Angel of the Waters statue, its place in LGBTQ+ history, and its significance as a symbol of connection and healing for New York City.
Tags: Park Design / Monuments / History / Art Lovers
![A rowboat on the Lake seen through the branches of a tree on an autumn afternoon](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/TheRamble-TheLake-20190927-06040.jpg)
Park History
Hidden Histories: 6 Little-Known Designs for Central Park
Research into the original drawings and plans created to build Central Park offer hidden secrets from both the built and unbuilt aspects of the Park.
Tags: Park Design
![The Ramble 20190429 0181](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/The-Ramble_20190429_0181.jpg)
Programs and Events
New Yorkers Celebrate Spring in Central Park
A full day of free special events and programs unfolded across Central Park on March 20 to celebrate the first day of spring.
Tags: Families / Conservancy Staff / Spring
![The Ramble in the autumn.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Ramble_FallFoliage_20201105_1974_RT.jpg)
Park Information
Sculpted Nature: Landscape Architecture in Central Park
Tags: Park Design
![Martha and Serena sitting on a Park bench in front of colorful flowers.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1000x750_crop_center-center_none/thumbnail_IMG_5021.jpg)
About the Conservancy
People of the Park: Martha & Serena
Central Park is integral to many people’s lives, and we're talking to some of them to get to know the people behind the people’s Park. Meet Martha and Serena, whose relationship is deeply entwined with this vibrant greenspace.
Tags: Conservancy Staff / Tips for Visiting / About the Conservancy / Nature Lovers / Park Experts / First-Time Visitors
![Balto is seen standing proudly on his rock, above the accompanying plaque, on a sunny day](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/A-History-of-Monuments-in-Central-Park.jpg)
Park History
A History of Monuments in Central Park
Tags: Monuments
![The Bow Bridge and its image mirrored on the stillness of the Lake](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/2017-BowBridgeSummer_4052.jpg)
Programs and Events
Movies in Central Park: Our Favorite Park Locations Made Famous on Film
Experience the magic of movies in Central Park! Explore our favorite Park locations made famous on film. Then go even further behind the scenes on our Central Park Summer Movies Tour led by expert Conservancy guides.
Tags: Tips for Visiting / Highlights / All Ages / First-Time Visitors
![A bicyclist can be seen through the leaves and past the trunk of a large tree](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/How-Central-Park-Keeps-New-York-City-Healthy.jpg)
Park Information
How Central Park Keeps New York City Healthy
Tags: Nature Lovers / Fitness / Landscape Design
![Paulson 2014 Spring 3873](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Paulson_2014_Spring_3873.jpg)
Plants and Trees
The Fight to Save Central Park’s Iconic American Elm Trees
The Mall & Literary Walk are among Central Park’s most iconic features and home to one of the largest and last remaining collections of American elm trees in the world. Learn all about American elms in Central Park and how our team of arborists works diligently to protect them against Dutch elm disease.
Tags: Conservancy Staff / Park Design / About the Conservancy / Trees / Highlights / Nature Lovers / Park Experts / Plants and Trees / Landscapes / Restoration and Maintenance
![Bow Bridge during a snowfall](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1000x750_crop_center-center_none/Central-Park’s-Most-Instagrammable-Wintertime-Spots.jpg)
Park Information
How to be an Instagram Pro in Central Park
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an amateur wielding a phone, here are some of our favorite shutter-worthy spots in the winter.
Tags: Winter
![Mall Womens Rights Pioneers Monument 20201027 1205](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Mall_WomensRightsPioneersMonument_20201027_1205.jpg)
Park History
Women’s Rights Pioneers: A New Addition to Central Park’s Landscape
The Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument is the first monument in Central Park to depict actual women.
Tags: Monuments / History
![Arches Willowdell DSC 0159](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Arches-Willowdell-DSC_0159.jpg)
Park History
From the Archives: Fall Foliage in Central Park Over the Years
The colorful spectacle of fall foliage in Central Park never loses its appeal. We turned to our archives to see how the Park has evolved from one fall to the next.
Tags: Fall / Highlights / Staff Picks / Nature Lovers / Plants and Trees / Landscapes
![A man in a fedora is seen from behind with a wintery scene in the background](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/j_CPCBWNeg_1981-82_014_09.jpg)
Park History
See Newly Digitized Images of Winter in Central Park
Snowy scenes from the 1980s and 1990s are some of the Central Park Conservancy's recently digitized images.
Tags: Conservancy Staff / History
![Photo of a snowman in Central Park taken by: @an_uptown_girl](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1000x750_crop_center-center_none/147543416_267288354824259_4537533217897247927_n.jpg)
Things to See and Do
Central Park’s Most Instagrammable Wintertime Spots, Part II
With fewer crowds and a tranquility not found in other seasons, winter is an ideal time to photograph Central Park. Brave the cold and visit the Park this season—no filter needed.
Tags: Tips for Visiting / Winter / Highlights
![A wide-angle photograph of Bethesda Terrace taken from above](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x1238_crop_center-center_none/Central-Park-in-the-Movies.jpg)
Things to See and Do
From Bow Bridge to the Mall: Central Park in the Movies
And the award for Best Supporting Actor goes to...Central Park! One of the most filmed locations in the world, the Park's landscapes have been featured in countless movies, shows, and music videos. From Breakfast at Tiffany's to Home Alone 2, we've got the scoop on what scenes were filmed where.
Tags: Tips for Visiting / History / Art Lovers / Park Experts