Milestone Park

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Van Pelt Milestone

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Location: 81st Street and 18th Avenue
Description: Tablet embedded in plinth
Materials: Brass, granite
Dedicated: 1917
Donor: Mr. & Mrs. Townsend Cortelyou Van Pelt
Inscription: THIS PARK IS AT THE LOCATION OF THE OLDEST EXISTING MILE- / STONE
IN NEW YORK CITY. THE NEW UTRECHT MILESTONE WAS PLACE-/ED HERE
IN APPROXIMATELY 1741, UNDER THE REIGN OF GEORGE / II. THE STONE,
WHICH SERVED AS A DIRECTIONAL POST TO / TRAVELERS, STOOD AT THE
JUNCTURE OF TWO COLONIAL ROADS; / KING'S HIGHWAY AND OLD NEW
UTRECHT-FLATBUSH ROAD (NOW 18TH / AVENUE). IT ALSO SERVED AS A
GUAGE TO DETERMINE POSTAL RATES / THE INSCRIPTION READS AS
FOLLOWS: / FRONT: 8 1/4 MILE TO N. YORK FERRY, THIS ROAD TO DENY'S
FERRY, 2 1/2 MILES. /
SIDE: 10 1/2 MILES TO N. YORK FERRY. THIS ROAD TO JAMAICA, 15
MILES/

THE NEW UTRECHT MILESTONE IS NOW IN SAFEKEEPING WITH THE LONG
ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY./

Please note, the NAME field includes a primary designation as well as alternate namingsoften in common or popular usage. The DEDICATED field refers to the most recent dedication, most often, butnot necessarily the original dedication date. If the monument did not have a formal dedication, the yearlisted reflects the date of installation.

For more information, please contact Art & Antiquities at (212) 360-8163