Rentals New York
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Car Rentals New York and Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn
Immerse yourself in Brooklyn's history at the Grand Army Plaza where you can find the Bailey Fountain (erected in memory of John F. Kennedy) proudly standing amongst the statues of Civil War Generals and famous Brooklyn citizens such as Henry Maxwell Tablet and Alexander J.C. Skene. The Grand Army Plaza most notable feature is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch in which annually packs of tourists flock to see this majestic towering monument. Don't miss out on your chance to see the great history of Brooklyn when traveling with your car rentals New York company Image Rent A Car. With the vehicles you can trust, let the number one car rentals New York company Image Rent A Car take you there!
History
The Grand Plaza Brooklyn had modest beginnings. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the Grand Army Plaza was meant to separate the bustle of the city from the peace of the Park. This was accomplished with a single spout fountain which was surrounded by earth embankments with plantings. Even today they are a major factor in keeping the calm of the Park as well as shielding surrounding buildings. It was in 1889 in where the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch was designed by John H. Duncan (also designer of Grant's Tomb in Manhattan) who designed it in similar style of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. October 21, 1892 was the official unveiling of the Arch with President Grover Cleveland who presided the event. It would be nine years before the Arch would gain monumental status.
In 1894 with Brooklyn's "City Beautiful movement", Frederick MacMonnies designed three sculptures, the Quadriga, The Spirit of the Army, and The Spirit of the Navy. The Quadriga is a representation of the United States. It depicts a lady figure riding a horse drawn chariot. It took nearly seven years for the three sculptures to be completed, nearly two times the amount of construction done on the actual arch itself.
The Bailey Fountain was the fourth fountatin to occupy the Grand Plaza Brooklyn. Designed by architect Edgerton Swarthout and sculptor Eugene Swarthot in 1932, the fountain was named after Brooklyn philanthropist Frank Bailey in memory to his wife. Mythical and allegorical figures can be found on the fountain including Neptune.
Today
The interior of the Arch is normally closed to the public but is made open for art shows and other performances. When with you car rental New York, take note that only the eastern end (which leads to a platform on the top of the Quadriga) is ever open to the public. The busiest and largest traffic circle in Brooklyn is also located around the Arch. This includes Flatbush Ave., Vanderbilt Ave., Eastern Parkway, Prospect Park West and Union Street.
Notable times...
- 1973 - The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument receives landmark designations
- 1975 - the Grand Army Plaza is officially recognized as a New York City historic landmark
- 1976 - Fall from grace, the Victory figure falls out of its chariot
- 1980 - The Arch gets restored (and again in 2000)
Directions to the Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn...
The Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn is formed by the intersection of Flatbush Ave., Eastern Parkway, Prospect Park West and a variety of other small streets. The best way to get to the Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn with your car rentals New York company Image Rent A Car from Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges is to take Flatbush Ave. If you're coming from BQE take it too Tillary St. make an exit, take a left on Flatbush Ave. to Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn.
