Name: Bethesda Terrace
Address: New York, NY 10024
Telephone: (212) 310-6600
Rating: 4.7

Bi-level, lakeside terrace with a large fountain & carvings representing the seasons & times of day.

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The construction of Bethesda Terrace began in 1859, making it one of the earliest structures built in Central Park.

Construction Start

Construction of Bethesda Terrace continued through the American Civil War, showcasing its importance even during a time of national conflict.

Construction During War

The Bethesda Terrace Arcade is the only place in the world where Minton tiles are used for a ceiling, making it a unique architectural marvel.

Unique Ceiling

Bethesda Terrace is renowned for its breathtaking views of Central Park Lake and the surrounding woods, offering a picturesque panorama.

Spectacular Views

Bethesda Terrace is a popular spot for talented street performers, adding to the vibrant atmosphere and entertainment value.

Live Entertainment

Bethesda Terrace, a focal point of Central Park, distinguishes itself through its intricate Minton tile ceiling, the only in-situ example of this Victorian-era ceramic art in the world. These vibrant, geometrically patterned tiles, originally intended for outdoor use but repurposed due to New York's harsh climate, create a mesmerizing canopy within the Arcade. The Terrace's two levels, connected by grand staircases, offer contrasting perspectives; the upper level provides sweeping views of the Lake, while the lower level, with its proximity to the Bethesda Fountain, fosters a more intimate atmosphere. The sculptural elements, particularly Emma Stebbins' "Angel of the Waters," are not merely decorative; the angel commemorates the Croton Aqueduct, which brought fresh water to New York City, symbolizing purity and health. Interestingly, the Terrace's design incorporates subtle acoustic properties, creating unique soundscapes that enhance the visitor experience, a feature often overlooked amidst the visual splendor.

Introduction

Bethesda Terrace, the formal centerpiece of Central Park in New York City, is renowned for its Minton tile ceiling within the majestic Arcade. This unique ceramic masterpiece, often called "the heart of the park," features nearly 16,000 bespoke encaustic tiles crafted in The Potteries, Stoke-on-Trent, England, between 1865 and 1867. Designed by Jacob Wrey Mould, who drew inspiration from Owen Jones' "Grammar of Ornament," the ceiling is the only encaustic tile ceiling in the world. The tiles were fixed to cast iron back plates using a special slot in the back of each tile that was produced by inserting a wedge-shaped piece of wood that burnt out during firing.

Originally, Bethesda Terrace also featured a "lost floor," designed by Jacob Wrey Mould, mirroring the ceiling's grandeur with an estimated 45,000 encaustic and geometric tiles, also made by Minton. Sadly, this floor was replaced by 1911 due to water damage and subsidence. Miller & Coates, based in Manhattan, were engaged by Central Park Commissioners to supply and broker the import of Minton Tiles for Bethesda Terrace Arcade.

The Minton tile ceiling at Bethesda Arcade is the most visited and photographed architectural ceramic in the world. The tiles and terrace have developed an almost mythical reputation as a focus for love, protest and congregation.

Minton Tile Ceiling

Bethesda Terrace, envisioned as the "heart of the park," serves as a social gathering space, offering respite from urban life. Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux emphasized nature's importance in its design, creating a space where people could connect with nature and each other. Jacob Wrey Mould's decorative elements, following Vaux's concepts, reinforce this connection with carvings depicting times of day, seasons, regional birds, and seasonal plants.

The terrace consists of upper and lower levels connected by grand staircases, constructed primarily of New Brunswick sandstone with Roman brick paving and granite steps. The upper terrace provides views, while the lower terrace connects to the Mall and features the Bethesda Fountain. The Arcade, integral to the terrace, facilitates park circulation with its ornamented interior, including a ceiling of nearly 16,000 encaustic tiles manufactured by Minton.

Bethesda Fountain, at the terrace's center, complements the theme of love with the Angel of the Waters statue. The terrace experienced changes, including a period of decline in the 1970s, but was restored in the early 1980s. Today, it is known for its views, people-watching, and street performers. The terrace integrates nature into its design through intricate carvings on piers and staircases, depicting scenes of night and day, the four seasons, and various natural elements.

Central Park's Heart

The Angel of the Waters statue, the centerpiece of Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, is a renowned work by Emma Stebbins, unveiled in 1873. It stands as the only sculpture commissioned as part of Central Park's original design. The eight-foot bronze angel, also known as Angel of the Waters, blesses the water flowing into the fountain's basin, commemorating the 1842 opening of the Croton Aqueduct, which brought fresh water to New York City. Stebbins linked the pure city water to the healing powers of the biblical Pool of Bethesda, quoting John 5:2-4 at the statue's dedication.

Stebbins was the first woman to receive a public art commission in New York City. Some speculate that she modeled the figure of the angel after her partner, the actress Charlotte Cushman. The statue features an angel with outstretched hand, holding a lily, symbolizing the purity of the water, while four cherubs beneath her represent health, purity, temperance, and peace. The statue alludes to the Croton Aqueduct, the first pure-water aqueduct in New York City. The lower basin has water lilies, lotus, and papyrus, inspired by an illustration in an 1891 book by Vaux's assistant and partner Samuel Parsons. The base of the fountain was designed by Calvert Vaux, with sculptural details by Jacob Wrey Mould.

Angel of the Waters Statue

Greensward Plan Integration

Bethesda Terrace, an architectural marvel in Central Park, was among the park's first structures, with construction beginning in 1859 and completed in 1863. Designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, the terrace consists of upper and lower levels connected by grand staircases, exhibiting New Brunswick sandstone, Roman brick paving, and granite steps. Vaux emphasized nature's importance, envisioning the terrace as the park's heart, a social gathering place offering respite from urban life.

Mould's designs supported this vision with decorative elements depicting times of day, seasons, regional birds, and plants. The Arcade, integral to the park's circulation, features a ceiling adorned with approximately 16,000 Minton encaustic tiles forming 49 geometric panels, the only ceiling in the world to incorporate these inlaid tiles typically used for flooring.

The terrace experienced changes, including a period of decline in the 1970s, followed by restoration by the Central Park Conservancy in the early 1980s. A significant restoration focused on the Minton tiles, which were removed in 1983 due to deterioration. The tiles were meticulously cleaned, repaired, and reinstalled by 2007, with damaged tiles replaced by the Minton tile company. The restoration also included new waterproofing, steel supports, and lighting. The Terrace stands as a formal landscape contrasting with the park's naturalistic design, integrating nature through intricate carvings representing night, day, seasons, and regional flora and fauna.

Bethesda Terrace

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Construction Start

Construction During War

Unique Ceiling

Spectacular Views

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