Introducing the High Line

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New Preface to the 3rd Edition

Cathedral of St. John the Divine: like so much else in New York City, a perpetual work-in-progress

Nave of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, November 2021

The end of Section 1 at the 20th Street gate in June 2011. Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — The end of Section 1 at the 20th Street gate, June 2011

Construction on the High Line, April 2012. Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Construction on the High Line, April 2012

Chelsea-Elliottt Houses (across street) and Avenues School, through the High LIne's Billboard at 26th Street. Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — “Class Divide”: Chelsea-Elliottt Houses (across street) and Avenues School, through the High Line’s “Billboard” at 26th Street

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Prologue

The New West Washington Market, New York City, 1888, wood engraving on paper. Artist Unknown. Image courtesy Clark Art Institute, http://clarkart.edu — Brick buildings of West Washington Market & open air Gansevoort Market (foreground), New York City, 1888, wood engraving on paper. Artist Unknown. Image courtesy Clark Art Institute

West Washington Market, 1907, showing (at left) Gansevoort Pumping Station. Photographer unknown. — West Washington Market (buildings in rear) & open air Gansevoort Market (foreground) 1907. Photographer unknown.

Gansevoort Market, Pumping Station, Chelsea Piers and Manhattan Refrigerating Company Warehouse, 1900. Photo:Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library — Open air Gansevoort Market, 1900. Photo: Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library

Thirty-third Street and 11th Avneue in the decades before the High Line. Photo: Kalmbach Publishing — 33rd St. and 11th Ave. in the decades before the High Line. Photo: Kalmbach Publishing

St. John's Terminal, early 1930s. Photo: Kalmbach Publishing — St. John’s Terminal, early 1930s. Photo: Kalmbach Publishing

George Hayde and Cyclone, March 29, 1941: the last — The “West Side Cowboy” passing 26th Street. Photo: Kalmbach Publishing Co.

S.S. Carpathia docked at Chelsea Piers, 1912. According to the NYC Municipal Archive, historians suspect this photograph was probably taken after Carpathia arrived with survivors of the Titanic disaster. Photo: Municipal Archives, City of New York

A century later the Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth passes Pier 54, January 17, 2012

Joel Sternfeld, collage of images 1 — Joel Sternfeld’s early images of the abandoned High Line. Photo: courtesy Joel Sternfeld

There are other wonderful parks in the neighborhood. One of the joys of Hudson River Park is the Carousel at Pier 62 with its hand-carved animals native to the Hudson River Valley

Coyote, sea horses & black bear on the Pier 62 Carousel.Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High LinePhoto: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Wolf, sea horses & black bear

Wild turkey, crawfish & cormorant on the Pier 62 Carousel.Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High LinePhoto: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Wolf, sea horses & black bear

Deer, horseshoe crab & eel on the Pier 62 Carousel. Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High LinePhoto: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Deer, horseshoe crab & eel

Harbor seal and pups on the Pier 62 Carousel. Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High LinePhoto: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Deer, horseshoe crab & eel

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Foreword by Rick Darke

Rick Darke's October 2002 photo of the abandoned High Line in today's Tenth Avenue Spur — October 2002, the surreal beauty of the unreconstructed High Line is apparent. Photo: Rick Darke

Jim Shaughnessy’s famous 1957 photo (left) and Rick Darke’s photo taken from the same spot in 2003.Jim Shaughnessy, © Center for Railroad Photography and Art

The West Side Rail Yards on the abandoned High Line. Photo: Rick Darke

The fading New York Central Logo on the High Line. Photo: Rick Darke

Hugh Ferris, — Hugh Ferriss’s charcoal rendering of architect Harvey Wiley Corbett’s “
Proposal to Increase Street Capacity,” from the Regional Plan of New York and Its Environs (1923–24).

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Joel Sternfeld

Joel Sternfeld’s early images of the abandoned High Line. See all his High Line photos here.

all photos courtesy Joel Sternfeld

Images of the abandoned High Line with wild grasses and plants growing between the old railroad tracks

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Designing the High Line

Preparing the — Preparing the “concrete bathtub” for the lawn, August 2009

The Lawn under construction, 2010

Remediation team in the West Side Rail Yards on the High Line, February 2013.Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Remediation team in the West Side Rail Yards, February 2013

Construction workers near the Guardian Angel Church, 2010

The lighting design on the High Line by Hervé Descottes of L’Observatoire, Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Rooftop view of lighting

Lighting along the pathways on the High Line. Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Rooftop view of lighting

The classic — The classic “peel-up bench”

Art Deco railing on the High Line. Photo: Rick Darke — Art Deco railing. Photo: Rick Darke

Expansion joints on the High Line. Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Expansion joints

Stone mulch on the High Line.Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Stone mulch

Everything in bloom in the Chelsea Grasslands in June 2013. Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — High Line pavers with perennials in bloom

Drainage system and rail labels on the High Line.Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Drainage system and rail labels

Even the birds wonder at the rail labels. Photo: Annik LaFarge, author of On the High Line — Even the birds wonder at the rail labels

A worker applies a coat of primer to the rusted Art Deco rails on the Interim Walkway, 2013

Randy Johnson in the Interim Walkway, 2013

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Up next: Gansevoort to 14th Streets