10 Things to Do & See in Washington Heights
Avail yourself of our modern boutique hospitality here at the Edge Hotel, and you’re calling home one of Manhattan’s most historically, culturally, and scenically rich neighborhoods. From architectural sightseeing to epicurean safaris, here are 10 of the top things to see and do in Washington Heights!
(1) Fort Tryon Park
Designed by the illustrious Olmsted Brothers architectural firm, Fort Tryon Park makes one of New York City’s great greenspaces. Along with the Cloisters (see below), its attractions include lovely gardens, glacier-etched boulders, and stirring views across the Hudson River to the New Jersey Palisades.
(2) The Cloisters
This branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is among Manhattan’s foremost landmarks, home to better than 2,000 works of medieval art (including the famous Unicorn Tapestries).
(3) Morris-Jumel Mansion
A hop, skip, and a jump from the Edge Hotel you can check out the oldest surviving building in all of Manhattan: the 1765-built Morris-Jumel Mansion, which George Washington used during the Battle of Harlem Heights. It’s been a museum for more than a century.
(4) Bennett Park
Summit Manhattan in Bennett Park, host to an outcrop of metamorphic bedrock that makes the island’s 265-foot high point. This strategic upland hosted Fort Washington during the Revolutionary War; the British captured it in November 1776.
(5) Hispanic Society of America
The Hispanic Society of America Museum & Library contains a fabulous collection of Hispanic artwork, books, and manuscripts: the most extensive, in fact, outside of Spain and Latin America.
(6) Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse
The only remaining light in Manhattan has marked Jeffrey’s Hook along the Hudson River since 1921. The charming landmark, widely known as the Little Red Lighthouse, gained widespread renown courtesy of a starring role in Hildegarde Swift’s 1942 children’s book, The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.
(7) Paul Robeson Residence
The imposing apartment building known as the Paul Robeson Residence, a National Historic Landmark at 555 Edgecombe Avenue, has seen some prestigious occupants over its history: among them jazz maestro Count Basie, heavyweight champion Joe Louis, and the great actor of film and stage for whom it’s now named.
(8) Audubon’s Ballroom
Another defining historic landmark of Washington Heights, the former theater of the Audubon Ballroom hosts the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Education Center; Malcolm X was assassinated here in 1965.
(9) Hudson View Gardens
More history awaits at New York City’s oldest housing co-op, Hudson View Gardens, a striking Tudor Revival building completed in 1924.
(10) Dine Out
Washington Heights is host to a diverse spread of restaurants, including an impressive variety of Latin American eateries.
Explore deep-rooted history and diverse culture in Washington Heights with an H.Q. at the Edge Hotel!