New York’s Central Park has been around, in various incarnations, for roughly 150 years. In that time it has been hailed as a masterpiece of landscape design; has served as a punchline in jokes about muggings and violent crime; provided the setting for key scenes in countless books, plays and movies; and remains, for New Yorkers and for millions of visitors to Gotham every single year, one of the world’s great urban wonders — 800 acres of tree-lined paths, public plazas, open fields, gardens, ponds, lakes, bridges, performance spaces, a castle on a hill, arguably the world’s greatest museum and a small, quite charming zoo.
Here, a series of photos life in Central Park from 1961, taken by photographer Leonard McCombe.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6vy6YajiTj0tKmYywrGqIqbpNZbjLozqAQNiNTPf-1AFge3FfvVa7Yc3e9-c0wYe6GWQ_kfNIX-_RDJ5fUUkhXWFFdWSZIBiTFl4R6fa2Jl9kOCH13J0jPKDnwoHFuo9pveiCfju1t5t/s640-rw/01+Dancers+in+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Dancers in Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdH6rwmsONTsziVqkXnWXZsob23O8eXGRt0hfDc7-2az20QESCONcaAbE2RQxJj1dMx91cyf3tGsGJH_vqysEX-M_FVmDKvTMWMgT_By_taubLbSTVbG3IiPvz1Cns95xDTP5PZ8hqIcN/s640-rw/02+Unicyclist+in+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Unicyclist in Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIZf1b7dAWkZIv9DJ6OWa4Ma09VFW_Hy-wf2W5BzyOVGt7bvzWwrBZzLCo5hyKECxkLUdQZJs1zZK0QTqBBLrfW2BNvNqQQ84Lditr_CQ5doMWI9iCKrorAqoUdgXUJlwnxBeYaSRdwMI/s640-rw/03+Warming+up+before+a+soccer+match,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Warming up before a soccer match, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4Ne7D9jwyXDzGn7juO9uWrUEUKototXmLRKrL8gIUd7MPI0Lx_2gIPkx5Uxks23mVyUuGRnvpMjIt6kOerBI0ktD1rejbWETEVsWoqKvuE5LantizBqaNgKJ2VS7oj-yOvebMKhtRHYj/s640-rw/04+Scene+in+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Scene in Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiVqWqrmUMm05_0mTqfgRL2uNI1HHxGgAZ4ZyPcJZpl3OKewLWKV5Eq_sxg0yQ0FMDHKDKOP_L02HT5LEgIjYLV4Hw6lQc-5Q_aBckXRQtOKvTm45QnmgBhDt3s-yjxyQB7eLAbbbvQLF/s640-rw/05+A+painter+finds+a+secluded+spot,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
A painter finds a secluded spot, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYngYt5pKEGOVNYOOquziWfp57Bkt1CfGR6lej32ej3gCo0xWApyJo0YRfIYPPP9aRdUN69HBEpn1wyoKTqZzu4GUAnxkHfOv1RSsNeN3vR6N0n2IoTg6BzzMVMDOiQWjCGlUs76ToFIP/s640-rw/06+Central+Park's+Bethesda+Fountain,+1961.jpg) |
Central Park's Bethesda Fountain, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDaeJ7jdkiebNYDV3tsA0iqgCR0n_zvklCTqQQySkO-2uRgknvKYMVRX73RzQJbeVkCduW9ZD7gBfhY8zL2_iUQVN0r92K44YXQ4OlB80oYcNqKpYKosmJjjFWmWG_CAmswdOZ_UPxjo9/s640-rw/07+Rowers+on+'the+lake'+in+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Rowers on 'the lake' in Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLpq-p-VDEJTruJCxxMRbmbc9JiX1eVQtrsl07gZRHTGesDrCOJjxEQ4j5VumOG5FvAE37QE_E2sx-fBX-2CF3yVFIVV49bvxbHDtDOCN_pCFR0x-r1I5EW-97VJMXIB4rmheOe9zoQ7b/s640-rw/08+Fishing+in+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Fishing in Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYjmFpblApO1fwDOvZYveVc9d4Xd8rrQrkJMvqaQv1FjM7fdaMojeJDnNh-EquEcnhBAP-e5ZBe7sMKnNL3gVTALnEz6VuyYSxg67RsqbNukW-mR5yqs9-DG0PRDEG71HafaWn4Gd2vqY/s640-rw/09+Sunbathers+cool+their+feet,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Sunbathers cool their feet, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4QIbEv29d8Os3uC9PG0T7GwKT7uqFOuI3r41t1O4FcKG_yXBBs77g-oK8hP6vqqS0jFuhCSiMzcdgqQavnXm4bFuOrPwoJ4g90GUFTb0obA5Fkr_dGN23C5jD4ONyUol9d3awfp2kOVy/s640-rw/10+Scene+near+the+Boat+House,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Scene near the Boat House, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pZiegzWWR930EyF71v1HHX-_0UhPXJtLouuqIy6vwckcZvqjQThDGJhwHod4KoQ3PBmNAEurzoQhzrniPiQEkTcG86t6mRJ_3APkP0Z_msRJYTbEJVc0amxidp_KPmShuAf-ru33rGdE/s640-rw/11+Model+sailboats+in+Conservatory+Pond,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Model sailboats in Conservatory Pond, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQwLV2X81G_mJOI0n45jZCRzDFuFq4KwpylfeoOeqmRuY2HYKqxKBwqXJu5yTbRbUQm-NwTQHwYu9HyQ3kOEaF0t9t-6tEQnLs_QmwxcJETLXK9KHF7AwYWF8gnD7JzMMEGup8zt_Taqp/s640-rw/12+Nelson's+flagship+Victory+gets+a+tender+launching+by+its+builder,+Arthur+Langton.jpg) |
Nelson's flagship Victory gets a tender launching by its builder, Arthur Langton |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ88CSBxukQW-YXgSBCwzV33YCZ3wfJLDKfo2Gkbb7Y27YSLpTzKVKJjoTF2OQ_2l0IICaquHIeErh8BKwvPeqrE3W6R6boa9qqaq-mgqsfrDC2etEUpdX8NxRTrTkcfRKrrOskq8XS-qO/s640-rw/13+Dogs+in+a+fountain,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Dogs in a fountain, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZISpzGr1RlvefrLFPu7OcYX2Y14iiTncY5faiUmvvxImN92Wnl71L7sBKIaMripvQa5_u9RwkU4xn68SvDxIMUI3BM_kyCGKgukF3Ogxs8gJOj0QvYCU38zl3BKO9tKAIaSuXAIL5kohr/s640-rw/14+Chess+players,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Chess players, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNXfQ7MU3kLdriwBIVLP79b7HCmh5zN1aB-MSEcvX7jj6HDaFi3CPX9WJOdekgdZT-as2kb7eaaRKeCYkqkEesXwwoAqnHk9VV7uRXvbkr66QHaO-G-i8uV7-8Hl8jUbwu2W6Q2CvMoCU/s640-rw/15+Water+fountain,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Water fountain, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXDbGM-UL8w5PpuDdlBgq3trQV3HqtcToR9TeFgR2akRcYz6NK7hYg-f47X3V_YE_qTXqdr1bpXLuNODXpX1PL2rK94R3DPfNg46RjFKe7uUvFIdhu7MDl4FSvEiabtQdmcQK-qmwilSe/s640-rw/16+In+a+wonderland+for+climbers+a+bronze+Alice+is+cluttered+with+children+who+have+scrambled+over+Mad+Hatter+and+other+Lewis+Carroll+creatures.jpg) |
In a wonderland for climbers a bronze Alice is cluttered with children who have scrambled over Mad Hatter and other Lewis Carroll creatures |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhYQUAaZvpCgp0XqsTW8KDG1zkfPmQGANFsD4jr47A2YoPos333MwnJ0CVna6TUSgMyZiMNaLtT2hp_58WXe0es-DCzqy3R0ZtVk791esbpKaBIwNaUGeNKMukhZDxO9irEyACDWtrp-9/s640-rw/17+A+trio+of+newly+graduated+students+strolls+soberly+past+a+trio+of+figures+dancing+ring-around-a-rosy+at+a+fountain.jpg) |
A trio of newly graduated students strolls soberly past a trio of figures dancing ring-around-a-rosy at a fountain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaYe_pAe1fZcTpmbHhD4JY26-TNu5ciMpPUauSnScC2sMD_PIk0QQmLUYArx9EwVlL7yS4mWaymx-i3DShKcahBYDhXZTXcNkMnFli9A_Xmkyb1AfCjcSogBN36xnjoRlW8Jytpz0yI9q/s640-rw/18+The+park's+carriage+trade,+out+for+a+morning+ride,+moves+in+conversational+formation+along+a+broad+pavement.jpg) |
The park's carriage trade, out for a morning ride, moves in conversational formation along a broad pavement |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPocL614mINAEQGFfWbKn0wQbUbF18WuGKxKlqK6L82sMLl50RCC3UlM0L8Ep12dacJJkTHvggFvDh-M0bVzTCGwmU0MXbR5YNfbNb50qKqbFUoOGWhvuGi9GjBbqj9U8ZsEJmS_P6ytWT/s640-rw/19+Scene+in+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Scene in Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrSM-Hhqz5WZsOnJwyJYz9JYTPcyItLXE087hKPo3KDk4sKe3w3EsPyfDGnOvkAqPD8A0lUzFQER_n0SVeP6gXd9cIpaJTwAyRKx9BlU7-h6AqmliamRMFTfNm3ghewSl-Lqz_V3CWXMp/s640-rw/20+Elephants+in+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Elephants in Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDh8nVK4LkjQ1zwlCyPPhoi3DFAxvqCOS8pvzOfNpzu4POufLuSjzInuo0IV4mh9Zfi0ny8TimR_LMiD7F_CIg5qHHvqL57AwsrHJkJuDombozmVOEF49I0ZFPov6jlpDbw6pL97u1ntE/s640-rw/21+Seals+in+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Seals in Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NjujZvNwBTNyfN4iGIPtxbishGtflFIhKzlxy6L9o6NPqRwAuV20dXrbPGAcUaSJ5jGu0JljylXOCP5w_6BPnJBW9Ztn8YAu0W6KqDsPtb2cEAW3KxEMgwTQ2HgAY98Lr-ZImtQVDdKB/s640-rw/22+Kodiak+bears,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Kodiak bears, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx4xzHVkie7RnC-oY8R-Q508UgqLR3QhRcaAAFirTQaMkkX38F2N1FH4jGkMK7GuxPnp4cu2ZeeshXKY9qJFqe6y_fTnnPi6EKmus4JOhJNsqkOpzEKPJ_-g-BI2Gwy2VyGptI_D2-qVc/s640-rw/23+Couple+on+a+bench,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Couple on a bench, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJ1lpoKJlfDe8pu1r8zm6sQ_Gll60RZAfV7iMcdHnETyCZHN5dAobdWzmVQInIsM9vGS51q2O9NnCae0n5E5s2VYDXR-e1OQlTsqUk7VLgNRMym6ChHNUvjATxcBc07WsVq4QlEt0mXi7/s640-rw/24+A+young+woman+is+helped+down+from+a+horse-drawn+carriage,+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
A young woman is helped down from a horse-drawn carriage, Central Park, 1961 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-dttpHU0GD4syshSxW4G6sUyJFlhvokcfXy-oSqfT7D9ZnJzNpe5MSWPy8-QGh-A9DGbseMTs9_rnsPDmj9OViJwdhJkPwLVj_f1Eyp0ER9d3OdWgQOw8vQ9BJVgxyKAZi67n7mx4Muy/s640-rw/25+Scene+in+Central+Park,+1961.jpg) |
Scene in Central Park, 1961 |
(Photos by Leonard McCombe—
Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)
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