3. Owls at Herald Square

Two owls flank the clock statue at Herald Square

Perhaps the owls at Herald Square are the eeriest. On the northern end of the statue, an owl-and-stars symbol is stamped on the door. Looking up at the sides of the clock, two owls are on either side. While this raises some questions, it’s at night that things start to get eerie when the eyes start to turn on and off with a flickering green light. Scouting NY and the Bowery Boys each noticed these as well.

One of the Two Owls at the Entrance to Herald Square

The square itself is the location of the former New York Herald Building and the owls are a tribute to James Gordon Bennett Jr., the newspaper publisher. Gordon Bennet Jr. was so obsessed with owls, he kept several live ones in his office and even planned to be buried in a 125-foot owl-shaped mausoleum by the architect Stanford White (who was murdered before said monument could be built).

These particular owls were two of many that ringed the facade of the Herald building and Gordon Bennet Jr. had their eyes light up every hour at the hour. Today they flicker on and off continuously throughout the night.

Only at night do their eyes flicker green