Marvelous Bethesda Terrace isn’t it? Look at its graceful curves. This isn’t just a pretty place. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain are architectural wonders overlooking Central Park’s Lake. Their story begins with Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted’s 1858 Greensward Plan. Initially called The Water Terrace it was transformed after the Angel of the Waters statue appeared.
Construction started during the American Civil War. Only the Music Stand and the Casino restaurant were completed at the same time. Both were later demolished. By 1861 work on Bethesda Terrace was well underway. In 1862 the stone arrived. By 1863 the fountain’s masonry was installed.
Bethesda Terrace’s stonework was finished by 1864. The park commission then hired a sculptor for the fountain figures. The upper terrace was mostly done by 1867. The fountain’s bronze figures were cast around the same time. Original plans included marble and bronze figures for the upper level. They were never installed. The Bethesda Fountain was finally completed in 1873.
Years later the terrace was abandoned. It was used as a bicycle rental spot. Later it housed The Fountain Cafe an outdoor restaurant from 1967 to 1974. The cafe closed for restoration work which was delayed for years. The area became a hippie hangout then a drug trafficking site. The fountain ran dry. By the 1980s the stonework was damaged. The arcade ceiling leaked. Frost and tree roots cracked the floor.
Restoration began in 1980-1981. The Central Park Conservancy led the effort. This was the first part of its Central Park renovation plan. The terrace was restored in 1982. Stonework was disassembled cleaned and repaired. New trees shrubs and ground cover plants were added in 1986. Sections of the balustrade were removed cleaned and restored.
The Minton encaustic tiles were removed in the 1980s. The Landmarks Preservation Commission deemed restoration too expensive. A mural was approved as a replacement. In 1987 Mayor Ed Koch declared the tiles would be restored. They sat in storage for over 20 years. A private donation finally funded their restoration. The tiles were reinstalled in 2007.
Bethesda Terrace and Fountain are at Central Park Mall’s northern end. The mall runs from about 65th to 73rd Streets. It’s the only formal feature in the Greensward Plan. Bethesda Terrace has two levels. The upper level is part of the Mall. The lower level faces the fountain. A carriage road on the upper level corresponds to 72nd Street. A wrought iron box girder bridge supports the road. It’s hidden under stone. The lower level is called the Esplanade. It has a flagstone plaza parapets and plantings.
An arcade lies under 72nd Street. Its ceiling has Minton encaustic tiles. There are about 14000 tiles. Most are original. Three panels were replaced during the 2000s renovation. Stone balustrades with carvings adorn the stairs. Jacob Wrey Mould designed the sculptural details. The carvings represent the seasons and other motifs.
Bethesda Fountain is the lower terrace’s centerpiece. The pool has a sculpture by Emma Stebbins. It was unveiled in 1873. Also called Angel of the Waters it refers to the biblical Pool of Bethesda. It was the only city-funded statue in the park’s original design. Stebbins was the first woman to receive a major public art commission in New York City.
The 8-foot bronze angel touches the fountain’s top. Water flows into an upper basin then into the pool below. Four 4-foot cherubs represent temperance purity health and peace. The angel holds a lily for purity. It blesses the water. The lower basin has water lilies lotuses and papyrus. Calvert Vaux designed the fountain’s base. Mould did the sculptural details. The carvings represent the seasons times of day and ages of mankind.
So there you have it the captivating story of Bethesda Terrace and Fountain a true testament to the enduring beauty of New York City.