New York City’s FDNY Firefighter Monument
Location: Riverside Park, West 100th Street & Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10025 , 40°47′54.9″N 73°58′24.1″W. A 40 ft sculpture made of bronze, granite and marble. Commissioned by the people of the City of New York in September 1913.
The City of New York (FDNY) Firefighter Memorial is often overlooked by tourists visiting New York City (NYC). Located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at 100th Street and Riverside Drive it is out of the traditional tourist areas of NYC. This beautiful and moving monument stands as a reminder of the sacrifices that firefighters make for the City and the citizens of New York.
Founded in 1865 and celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) is a department steeped in tradition. One such tradition is the FDNY’s annual “Memorial Day” ceremony. The ceremony is held at this location and showcases its true importance to the firefighter community. Thousands of firefighters gather to pay respect and to honor those who have given their lives serving their city.
In the years following September 11th, the FDNY Firefighter Monument has also served as a gathering spot for firefighters to pay respects to their fallen brothers. Family members find comfort and support for their loss. Indeed, every year on the morning of 9/11 firefighters from across New York City gather for a service to remember those who have gone before them. If you are in town, firefighters from around the world can often be seen in uniform joining their FDNY brothers and sisters at both of these large gatherings.
When visiting NYC it is worth the trip uptown to see this important and sacred monument. It is easily accessible by subway as the #1, 2 and 3 subway lines all stop at 96th Street and Broadway. It is just a short walk to the monument from there.
There is also a firehouse only a few blocks east of the monument on 100th Street. This fire station is nicknamed “Monumental Pride” due to its proximity to the monument and makes it quite appropriate to showcase here on Monumental.
Monumental USA is dedicated to highlighting local monuments and the human stories that lay at their foundation. The desire is to reinvigorate civic pride and sense of ownership through interesting monuments to events and personalities great and small across the nation, with a special focus on local and perhaps obscure or forgotten memorials.
