Tenth Avenue in Manhattan, New York, is also known as "Amsterdam Avenue" from 59th Street to 193rd Street. This bustling thoroughfare has a rich tapestry of historical events and quirky trivia.
Tenth Avenue was once notorious for the "Tenth Avenue Cowboy." In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, cowboys on horseback rode along Tenth Avenue to warn pedestrians of approaching trains. This was because the New York Central Railroad used street-level tracks, which were extremely hazardous. The cowboys, hired by the railway, were known as the "West Side Cowboys."
In 1908, the city decided to elevate the tracks to eliminate the danger. This project, known as the West Side Improvement Project, was one of the nation’s largest infrastructure projects at the time. It led to the creation of the High Line, an elevated freight rail line that has since been transformed into High Line Park in the early 2000s.
Tenth Avenue is also home to the Chelsea Market, located at 15th Street. This historic building was originally the headquarters of the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco), where the Oreo cookie was invented in 1912. Today, it is a bustling food hall and shopping mall that attracts both locals and tourists.
The avenue runs through the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, which has a colorful past. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Hell's Kitchen was infamous for its gang violence. The most notorious gang was the Gophers, who ruled the area from the 1890s to the 1910s. The area has since undergone significant gentrification and is now known for its vibrant nightlife and diverse dining options.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Tenth Avenue was part of the territory of the Westies, an Irish-American gang involved in organized crime. Their criminal activities were eventually curtailed by law enforcement in the 1980s.
Tenth Avenue also has a significant place in the history of New York's theater scene. The Irish Arts Center at 51st Street offers a cultural hub for Irish and Irish-American arts and serves as a venue for theater, music, dance, and film.
In the realm of pop culture, Tenth Avenue was immortalized in the song "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" by Bruce Springsteen. The song, from his 1975 album "Born to Run," narrates the formation of the E Street Band and has become a fan favorite.
With its fascinating history and vibrant cultural scene, Tenth Avenue is more than just a street; it's a living museum of New York City's eclectic past and dynamic present.