Here stands the Alamo. This black cube sculpture has been a downtown New York City fixture since 1967. Alamo is also known as the Astor Place Cube. Or simply The Cube.
The Alamo’s story begins with Tony Rosenthal. He created this artwork. It was part of a temporary art installation. But locals loved it. They petitioned to keep the Alamo. The city agreed. The Alamo became a permanent landmark.
The Alamo is made of Cor-Ten steel. It weighs 1,800 pounds. Each side measures eight feet. Its faces are not flat. They have indentations and ledges. A small plaque designates the sculpture’s name. Rosenthal’s wife chose the name. Its scale reminded her of the Alamo Mission.
The Alamo sits on Astor Place. It is at the intersection of several streets. This location is a meeting point. It stands across from the Astor Place subway station. Also nearby is the Cooper Union Foundation Building.
A hidden pole allows the Alamo to rotate. People spin the cube. It has become part of the New York experience. Tony Rosenthal never intended this. But the spinning became tradition.
The Alamo has faced challenges. In 2005, it was removed for maintenance. A replica stood in its place. The Jello Cube honored Peter Cooper. The Alamo returned with fresh paint.
In 2015, the Alamo was boxed for protection. Astor Place was being redeveloped. The sculpture was removed for restoration. It returned in 2016. The reconstruction cost $180,000. Rust was removed.
The Greenwich Village Society celebrated the Alamo’s 50th anniversary in 2017.
In 2022, the city determined spinning damaged the Alamo. It was locked in place. Metal braces were added. In 2023, the Alamo was removed for refurbishment. It went to a Connecticut foundry. The Alamo returned to Astor Place in August 2023.
The Alamo is not unique. Tony Rosenthal created seven similar cubes. Endover is at the University of Michigan. It also rotates. Its pivot is sunken. The Alamo’s pivot is on a platform.
The Alamo has been the target of pranks. In 2003, it became a giant Rubik’s Cube. In 2006, people decorated it with LED throwies. Chalk drawings appeared. In 2011, it was covered in crochet. It resembled the Weighted Companion Cube. In 2013, a fake documentary claimed someone lived inside. For Halloween 2015, a man dressed as The Cube.
The Alamo stands as a testament to public art. It has transformed Astor Place. It is a gathering place. It is a symbol of New York City. Passersby still touch and interact with it. They unlock its mysteries. They spin it. They make it their own. The Alamo endures.