6. You Can See Remnants of NYC’s Old Reservoirs
When the Old Croton Reservoir first opened, there were multiple reservoirs within the limits of New York City that it fed and there are many remnants of that system that you can see today. One of these remnants is a stone wall inside the New York Public Library which was once part of the Croton (or Murray Hill) Distributing Reservoir’s foundation. The reservoir opened in 1842 and stood where Bryant Park is today. It was a favorite walking spot of Edgar Allan Poe and other New Yorkers who could walk along the edge and take in the city views.. It was torn down in 1900.
Untapped Central Park Walking Tour
Another reservoir once stood where the Great Lawn of Central Park is now. Remnants of this structure can be found poking out of the ground on the east side of the Great Lawn and inside the conference room at the Central Park NYPD station on the 86th Street transverse (seen above). Track down more remnants of the Croton Aqueduct here! Today, the last point of travel for most NYC tap water before it enters homes and businesses is the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers.
