5. The first versions of Madison Square Garden were located in the district
Though Madison Square Garden is located today on Manhattan’s West Side, the “World’s Most Famous Arena” finds its origins near Madison Square. The block northeast of Madison Square Park between 26th and 27th Streets was the site of the first and second Madison Square Gardens. In 1873, P.T. Barnum began hosting his circus, the “Great Roman Hippodrome,” in an obsolete railroad depot north of Madison Square, which was owned by Commodore Vanderbilt. The first arena was officially constructed in 1879, and the circus’ popularity kept the first Madison Square Garden stable, especially considering it struggled financially.
Though, the first Madison Square Garden was demolished in 1889 due to structural issues. A second Madison Square Garden Building was built at the same location and was designed by Stanford White. This meant the show could go on. Workers built it incredibly fast, and in 1890, the building was completed. It was actually the second tallest building in the city until it closed in 1925. Strangely, Stanford White built himself a seduction lair inside the building and was later shot to death on the roof. The third version of Madison Square opened the same year it closed at 49th Street and 8th Avenue.