The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. "Castle Garden, New York. From the Battery. 624" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Castle Garden Entertainment Center 1823-1854In June of 1823, Castle Clinton was transferred from the federal government to the city of New York, marking the beginning of its evolution into an entertainment center. While some of the public believed the fort should be removed to restore the Battery’s charm as a public park and promenade, the New York Common Council decided to lease the structure out to prominent businessmen instead. Francis B. Fitch, Arthur Roorbach, and Jonathan Rathbone were awarded the first lease and the newly renamed “Castle Garden” was opened in the summer of 1824. It served as one of four popular amphitheaters in the city, and, combined with elements of a garden, it was one of the few outdoor spaces where people could come together to enjoy refreshments, live music, exhibitions, and even fireworks. 
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. "The Italian opera at Castle Garden" New York Public Library Digital Collections. In 1841, the lease was transferred to musical promoters Philip French and Christopher Heiser who renovated the space to serve as an indoor theater and concert hall. The newly installed ornate domed roof, central fountain, outdoor promenades along the terrace with harbor views, and seating which could accommodate six thousand people, became some of the structures most defining features. On its reopening after renovations in 1845, the Italian opera performed Rossini’s “Semiramide” with three to four thousand in attendance. The new operations were very popular with the public, with newspapers such as the New York Daily Herald reporting that, “The immense theatre is nightly filled with crowds. – From the most distant parts of the city the visiters come – the omnibusses are crowded – crowds flock to the Battery…”. 
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA Http://Hdl.Loc.Gov/Loc.Pnp/Pp.Print. [New York] : Spear & Nesbitt, printers, [1831], n.d. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2023630184/. Over its 30 years as an entertainment venue, Castle Garden catered to a diverse audience, bringing people together from across the city and beyond. It hosted notable figures like General Marquis de Lafayette, Presidents like Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, James Polk, and Millard Fillmore, and aspiring inventors like Samuel Morse and Samuel Colt all with grandeur. Crowds would gather for boat races or to witness one of Charles Durant’s acclaimed hot air balloon ascensions. In 1850, Swedish Opera singer Jenny Lind made her American debut on the stage. Not confined to traditional acts, the space also welcomed science and discovery. In 1824, this included a recently excavated Egyptian mummy which was exhibited in Castle Garden’s saloon. Groundbreaking inventions, such as Morse’s telegraph, Colt’s revolving rifles, underwater explosives, and the centrifugal railway, now known as a rollercoaster, were showcased on the site. Between 1824 and its ultimate closure at the end of the 1854 opera season, the facility was revered and cherished as a space for art and innovation in a growing New York City. 
This digital image may be used for educational or scholarly purposes without restriction. Commercial and other uses of the item are prohibited without prior written permission from the New-York Historical Society. The Return of LafayetteAs an acclaimed hero of the Revolutionary War, Marquis de Lafayette was invited to tour the then 24 states by President James Monroe. On August 16, 1824 he made his first appearance on the steamboat Chancellor Livingston, which sailed at the center of a celebratory fleet set to dock at Castle Garden, where thousands were waiting to greet him. Castle Garden had been lavishly decorated for the occasion with carpeted stairs and “an arch richly decorated with flags and wreaths of laurel”. On September 14th, a grand reception was held in his honor. In the words of the Evening Post, “...it was the most magnificent fête, given under cover, in the world.” These dates marked some of the first large events held at Castle Garden as an amphitheater and were esteemed for bringing people together to celebrate just how much the nation had grown since its independence from Britain. 
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Landing of President Jackson at Castle Garden, New York, June, 1833" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Reception of Andrew JacksonIn June 1833, President Andrew Jackson visited Castle Garden on a trip to New York City. Hundreds of thousands awaited him, including city and government officials such as Mayor Bowne and the New York State Artillery under order by Major General Jacob Morton. President Jackson’s retinue included a number of prominent dignitaries, including Secretary of State Louis McLane, Secretary of War Lewis Cass, and Andrew Jackson Donelson, who was the president’s nephew, personal secretary, and protégé. Jenny Lind's Debut in America
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. "First appearance of Jenny Lind in America. At Castle Garden, Septr. 11th, 1850. Total receipts $26,238" NYPL Digital Collections. 
This digital image may be used for educational or scholarly purposes without restriction. Commercial and other uses of the item are prohibited without prior written permission from the New-York Historical Society. On September 11, 1850 Jenny Lind made her American debut at Castle Garden. Known as “The Swedish Nightingale”, Lind was an adored opera singer who achieved international fame. She was well-known throughout Europe and had toured in cities such as Berlin, Stockholm, and London. Her popularity in the United States, practically unknown to the public prior, was precipitated by the strategic marketing of P.T. Barnum, a businessman and expert entertainment promoter who is lived on by the Barnum and Baily’s Circus legacy. Barnum also held a sublease at Castle Garden and carried out strategies like advertising, ticket auctions, and even a songwriting competition to amass excitement for Jenny Lind’s arrival. Over five thousand attended her first concert and from that moment “Lindmania'' only escalated, forever transforming America’s relationship with live music and popular culture. The New York Tribune claimed, “She is the greatest singer we have ever heard, and her success is all that was anticipated from her genius and her fame”. Lind was also known for her charitable endeavors and proceeds from her shows were often donated to the charities of her choice. While Lind decided to break her contract with Barnum, she continued to tour on her own accord until she returned to Castle Garden for a farewell concert on May 24, 1852. |
Last updated: January 22, 2024