12. Kingsbridge Armory
Episode 4 starts with a splash as viewers are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at a colorful performance rehearsal for the 1961 Building New York Expo. As Nicky and Frank ask a favor of Susie, they walk past a variety of different displays such as ‘Taxi of the Future,” “The Verrazzano Narrows Bridge” which was under construction at the time. This elaborate and massive set is full of easter eggs for those who love the history of New York City’s architecture and infrastructure, history, like us! At the expo, there are also booths for Madison Square Garden – which would start construction a few years later after the demolition of the original Penn Station – and the Second Avenue Subway.
Throughout the episode, we return to the expo hall for musical performances and a couple of dramatic encounters. The expo set was constructed inside the Kingsbridge Armory located in the Bronx. Opened in 1917, the now landmarked building was once the world’s largest armory in the world. The building has been largely vacant since 1996 when ownership was transferred to the City of New York. A redevelopment project for the structure is still in the planning stages. Possible new uses include a museum, convention space, media or film hub, sustainability education center, or athletic building, according to the Bronx Times.