Within Central Park’s 843 acres, the Mall and Literary Walk are among the most famous and often visited spots. Located near the park’s southern edge, the Mall stretches for just over 1,500 feet before terminating at the world-famous Bethesda Terrace.
This broad walkway is flanked by American elm trees and six bronze statues of notable personalities from American history.
Learn about the history of the Central Park Mall and how to make the most of your time in one of the park’s most popular areas with this helpful guide.
Among the many groundbreaking features of Central Park that Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux created, The Mall stands out. It was also notable for being one of the few comparatively straight routes in the park at the time.
About 1,500 feet in length, the route links the southern Olmsted Flower Bed with the northern Bethesda Terrace and Fountain.
Its 40-foot-wide paths were once frequented by the city’s aristocracy for leisurely strolls around the park’s natural setting. The well-to-do would be dropped off at the southern end of The Mall in horse-drawn carriages so they may stroll its paths at their leisure before being picked up in the Bethesda neighborhood.
The blueprints also provided for an overhanging canopy of tree branches to shade the walkway. Even though it took multiple plantings to produce the mature American Elms that stand here today, this area was deemed ideal for this species of tree.
Six sculptures along the southern end of the Mall form the Literary Walk and a new addition to this collection is the Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Suffrage Movement Monument, which joins monuments of William Shakespeare, Fitz Green Halleck, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Christopher Columbus, and others.
The promenade of The Mall is currently filled with hundreds of people, entertainers and artists making it a stunning complement to a day spent in Central Park and a hub of activity.
From 66th Street to 72nd Street, the southern part of the park is home to The Mall. Your route to this location in the park will vary depending on where you started.
Start out on the main walk around Central Park and then branch off to The Mall for convenience. In order to go to the southernmost point of The Mall, please follow the directions shown on the map below.
Starting from the Central Park gate on 7th Avenue and Central Park South, you can walk around the park’s main loop in about 10 minutes. The Mall will be on your left just after the loop begins to curve to the right (East).
Keep your eyes peeled for the statues and the tree-lined path as you make your way around the loop and after leaving the main circle, you will find yourself near the southernmost point of The Mall. After reaching the southern end of The Mall, continue north along the tree-lined walkway.
The walk’s first two sculptures, of Christopher Columbus and William Shakespeare, are located at the southern end of The Mall, on either side of a flower bed.
The view of the entire Mall is picture beautiful once you cross the flower bed. The towering American elms on either side make for a great photo op before you move on.
Across from one other, you’ll see statues of Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.
There are benches lining the sidewalk in both directions, and as you stroll along, you’ll encounter all kinds of amusements. There will be a large number of creative people there, including musicians, photographers, painters, and more.
Fitz Green Halleck and the new Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Suffrage Movement Monument will be the last two sculptures on the Literary Walk section of The Mall.
If you’re looking for a change of pace, you may always take one of the many parallel paths that crisscross The Mall. These side paths lead to some excellent vantage points of the American Elm trees, which can’t be had from the main trail.
Even though you can now see the end of the route in the distance, your journey along The Mall will continue to be filled with the same breathtaking vistas.
Near the northern end of The Mall, the paved surface abruptly ends, and the remainder of the journey to the Bethesda area is made on tiled brick.
Aside from the route, there is a sizable plaza area in front of the Naumburg Bandshell to explore. There have been thousands of concerts held at the Bandshell, and it’s possible that some of the artists are still hanging around and performing.
The end of The Mall is located in the Bethesda Terrace area, beyond the Bandshell. Both the Bethesda Arcade and the fountain plaza are accessible by a set of steps, the latter of which can be reached by going around the outer staircase.
I feel obligated to point you that The Mall is one of Central Park’s busiest areas for photographers everywhere and because of this, getting images without people in them will be very challenging indeed.
The best time to take photos of a deserted Mall is either early in the morning or late at night. Even though the walkway is more likely to be deserted at sunrise, early morning joggers and dog walkers will inevitably use it.
Having experienced The Mall in all four seasons, I can confidently state that my favorite time to visit is in the fall, when Central Park is at its most colorful. When the American elm trees are in full bloom, the scenery is enhanced by the yellowing of the foliage (although a Central Park snow is also a great time to visit).
The difficulty of photographing (or simply appreciating) The Mall at its best foliage is compounded by the fact that it does not last very long. The time it takes for the leaves to turn yellow and begin to fall is roughly a week.
You can still see a nice variety of green and golden leaves even if you don’t come during the peak leaf season. If you wait too long, the leaves will start to fall off and you won’t have much to work with.
What Statues Are In The Literary Walk in Central Park
There are 6 statues that are in the Literary Walk in Central Park and most of these are authors but there have been a couple additions through the years.
These statues include William Shakespeare, Fitz Green Halleck, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Christopher Columbus and the newest addition – the Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B Anthony Suffrage Movement Monument.
How Long Is The Literary Walk
The Literary Walk along The Mall is about 0.3 miles or a bit over 1,500 feet and spans 6 blocks from 66th Street to 72nd Street. The walk can take as little or as long as you like as you can spend plenty of time walking the pathways, taking a seat on the benches and enjoying the surroundings.
Why Is It Called The Mall In Central Park
In general, and not only specific to Central Park, a Mall is known as a tree lined park where people go to stroll and meet others. That is exactly what is happening in the Mall of Central Park. You have a wide pathway surrounded by American Elms, where locals go to meet others and socialize.
So, before shopping malls were the main places that people referred malls to, it had a bit of a different meaning.
What Trees Line The Mall In Central Park
American Elm trees line the Mall in Central Park. When these trees were first planted in the park, they did not even survive one year (besides a couple of them). The second go around also did not survive long due to signs of decay. It was then in the 1920’s that the trees you see today were planted.