Background

Union Square is located in Lower Manhattan, New York, between Broadway to the west and Park Avenue (Fourth Avenue) to the east, and between 14th and 17th Streets.

The area where the square is located today was initially agricultural land

 

. As New York City developed, some of the agricultural land became urbanized. The intersection of Bowery Lane and Bloomingdale Road, now known as Broadway, created an angle where it was difficult to construct buildings, and it was therefore decided to establish a square there. The site was initially called Union Place, a name referring to the union of the two roads bordering it

 

. In 1815, the boundaries of the site were established, and in 1832 additional land was acquired in its center. The park opened to the public in 1839.

In 1842, following the completion of the Croton Aqueduct, which carried water from the Croton River to reservoirs in Manhattan, a fountain was built in the center of the square

 

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The square served as a gathering place for various events, including demonstrations, rallies, and presidential funeral processions. In 1861, with the outbreak of the American Civil War, a large rally was held in the square in support of the Union forces

 

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Funeral processions of U.S. presidents passed through the square, including the funeral procession of President Lincoln in 1865

 

and that of President Andrew Jackson in 1882

 

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In 1870, a statue commemorating Abraham Lincoln was erected in the square. It was moved to its present location in 1930

 

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The streets surrounding the square were home to fashion stores

 

, theaters

 

, piano manufacturers

 

, and numerous hotels

 

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Union Square was adopted by labor organizations (unions), although its name was given for a different reason - the union of the roads, as mentioned above. In 1882, the first Labor Day parade was held there, beginning at City Hall and ending at the square

 

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Gregg LeFevre
The panels were all created by teacher and artist Gregg LeFevre, who specializes in creating panels for public spaces (more than 120 sites throughout the United States). Another collection of panels by the same artist depicts buildings with distinctive designs along Park Avenue in Manhattan

 

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Gregg LeFevre’s studio is located in Manhattan, New York.

About the panels

The 22 rectangular bronze panels are of various sizes and are installed on the ground along the southern curve of Union Square. The panels, installed in 2002, depict significant events and different periods in the history of the square.