Worth Square: A Verdant Oasis and Historic Burial Ground

Worth Square, nestled at the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue between 24th and 25th Streets in Manhattan, is a distinctive urban space blending history and tranquility. This 0.27-acre park serves as a memorial to General William Jenkins Worth, a war hero recognized for his service in the War of 1812, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican-American War. Designated as a public park in 1847, Worth Square has been the general's burial site since 1857. The square features a 51-foot granite monument designed by James Goodwin Batterson, who also contributed to the design of the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress. The monument's decorative bands are inscribed with significant battle sites from Worth's career, and a bronze equestrian relief of the general is attached to the front. The four corner piers, once holding lampposts, now support an ornamental cast-iron fence with pickets resembling Worth's Congressional Sword of Honor. Worth Square provides a peaceful retreat with decorative planters and café-style seating. In 2017, a restoration project expanded the square, converting adjacent blocks of Broadway into a shared street. Worth Square is the second-oldest monument in New York City, with the oldest being the George Washington equestrian monument in Union Square. It is also one of only two monuments in the city that serve as a mausoleum, the other being Grant's Tomb in Harlem.