9. The Remnants of 13th Avenue Can Be Seen in Hudson River Park

Construction site at Hudson River Park

Even seasoned New Yorkers may not realize there is actually a 13th Avenue in New York City. It used to extend from West 11th Street up to 25th Street and was built on landfill. But when the large ocean liners, like the RMS Lusitania and the Carpathia (along with the Titanic, which was supposed to arrive at Pier 59), started docking in New York harbor, the landfill had to be removed and the waterfront dredged to accommodate them.

The stretch that remains of 13th Avenue is west of the West Side Highway, between Gansevoort Street and Little West 12th Street, and can even be seen on Google Maps. Until recently, this remaining peninsula of land was home to several Department of Sanitation buildings. Those buildings were demolished in preparation for a new section of the park. The best way to see 13th Avenue at the moment is from the upper levels of the Whitney Museum, which is just across the street but once the new park section opens, you’ll be able to pay tribute to this long forgotten avenue in New York City at a historic marker the park will put in place.