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Researched by Kylie Chin, Rebecca Fuzaylov, and Selina Zheng

Though the allures of Central Park’s features are abundant, the one that caught our attention was the Naumburg Bandshell, which is located to the South of Bethesda Terrace between 66th and 72th streets. 

 

Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux always planned to include music in Central Park because they believed music would aid in freeing the mind, accomplishing their goals in designing the park. Originally in place of the bandshell was a bandstand, open on all sides, on the west side of the mall. Elkan Naumburg, one of the founders of the Institute of Musical Arts, offered the city $100,000 to build the bandshell, hence the name Naumburg Bandshell. The design of the bandshell was created in 1916; however, it did not open until 1923 because Naumburg thought that its construction should begin after the First World War. Naumburg’s nephew and architect, William G. Tachau, designed the half-domed bandshell with historical aspects alike the Cisternoni di Livorno and other Neoclassical architecture. The structure of the bandshell itself was very innovative in its time, especially through its double shell construction for improved acoustics. After the meticulous construction, Naumburg Bandshell was finally opened to the public on September 29, 2023.

 

After the addition of the bandshell, the park had 5 concerts a week in the summer, drawing upwards of 30,000 live audiences. The arrangement served well up until 1980, with a series of free concerts by the Naumburg Orchestra. Due to the issues the bandshell imposed, namely blocking the view of the hill and deteriorating blocks, in 1985, the Central Park Conservancy proposed to remove the bandshell. No other party had any opposing opinions except for the Naumburg family who vowed that if it were to be demolished, the Naumburg family would never again give New York free concerts. In 1993, the New York State Court of Appeals barred the demolition, quoting a city law that protected the foundation of gifts. The Naumburg Bandshell was renovated in 2021 to bring the landmark back to its original beauty; however, during its prime,  some notable speakers and performers stood out (Martin Luther King Jr., Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, John Lennon, etc.). 

 

Despite its intended musical purpose, Central Park’s Naumburg Bandshell has hosted non-musical events. On October 22, 2023, CaringKind’s 35th annual Alzheimer’s Walk and Community Day representing the five boroughs was set to be at the bandshell; it was said to be New York City’s largest Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk. On April 22, 2016, there was even an event for the Annual Shakespeare’s Birthday Sonnet Slam, where 154 readers performed all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets. All of this goes to show that the Naumburg Bandshell has gone beyond its purpose and has transformed into something that can be used for all sorts of community events.