8. Highbridge Park Once Had a Speedway Specifically for Horses
Image via Library of Congress
Built from 1894 to 1898, the Harlem River Speedway was another popular attraction in Upper Manhattan, sitting below Highbridge Park. It ran from West 155th Street to Dyckman Street and was exclusively used for those on horseback or in horse-drawn carriages.
It became a popular tourist attraction soon after opening in July 1898, and visitors could stop to watch carriage races (or boat races on the river). In 1919, motorists were permitted to use the Speedway until it was paved over in 1922; portions of it have now become the Harlem River Drive.