Find A Park > Central Park > Monuments > William Church Osborn Gates

Central Park

Back to MonumentsList

View all monuments in NYC Parks, as well as temporary public art installations on our NYC Public Art Map and Guide.

William Church Osborn Gates

* Click on thumbnail or image to zoom in

* Click map for directions

Artist:
Paul Manship
Dedicated:1953
Location:Fifth Avenue and East 84th-85th Streets
Description:Decorative gate with piers topped with animal groups
Architect:Aymar Embury II (designer)
Materials:Bronze, Minn. mahog. Cold Spring granite
Dimensions:Gates H: 6' W: 4'; Pylons H: 8'5" W: 1'6" D: 1'6"; Group H: 2'9"
Donor:William Church Osborn Memorial Committee

Inscription

EAST PYLON: IN / MEMORY OF / WILLIAM / CHURCH / OSBORN / 1861-1951 / HE
SERVED HIS / CITY AND STATE / FAITHFULLY / AND WELL/

WEST PYLON: PRESIDENT / THE CHILDREN'S / AID SOCIETY / 1901-1949/
NEW YORK / SOCIETY FOR / THE RELIEF OF / THE RUPTURED / AND CRIPPLED/
1910-1925 / 1928-1937 / METROPOLITAN / MUSEUM OF ART / 1941-1947/

GATES: EAST: THE FOX AND THE CROW / THE CROW LISTENED TO THE
FOXES / FLATTERY DROPPED THE CHEESE/

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE / SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE/

WEST: THE CRANE ALOFT SURVEYS THE WORLD.. / THE
EARTHBOUND / PEACOCK STRUTS AND BOASTS / WOE TO THE LAMB THAT
DISPUTES THE WOLF / THE CITY MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE./

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.

Check out your park's Vital Signs

Clean & Safe

92
Park Condition Score
$70.2M
Recent Investment

Green & Resilient

12.3K
Mapped Trees
74
Acres of Natural Areas

Empowered & Engaged Users

276
Recent & Future Events
Yes
Volunteer Engagement

Share your feedback or learn more about how this park is part of a Vital Park System

Know Before You Go

Ice Skating Rinks
Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)
The Harlem Meer Center is closed in order to rebuild the facility to increase access to nearby communities and enhance year-round programming. For more information, visit Central Park Conservancy's Rebuilding Harlem Meer Center page.
Anticipated Completion: Spring 2024
Outdoor Pools
Harlem Meer Center
The Harlem Meer Center is closed in order to rebuild the facility to increase access to nearby communities and enhance year-round programming. For more information, visit Central Park Conservancy's Rebuilding Harlem Meer Center page.
Anticipated Completion: Spring 2025

Partner Organization

Central Park Conservancy

Contacts

Central Park Information: (212) 310-6600
Central Park Information (for the Hearing Impaired): (800) 281-5722
Belvedere Castle, The Henry Luce Nature Observatory: (212) 772-0210
The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center: (212) 860-1370
The Dairy Visitor Center and Gift Shop: (212) 794-6564
North Meadow Recreation Center: (212) 348-4867
Loeb Boathouse (Bike rentals, boat rentals & gondolas): (212) 517-2233
Carousel: (212) 879-0244
Fishing at Harlem Meer (Catch & Release): (212) 860-1370
Harlem Meer Performance Festival: (212) 860-1370
Horseback Riding - Claremont Stables: (212) 724-5100
Metropolitan Opera (Performances on the Great Lawn): (212) 362-6000
New York Philharmonic (Performances on the Great Lawn): (212) 875-5709
Shakespeare in the Park - The Public Theater at the Delacorte Theater: (212) 539-8655
Central Park SummerStage: (212) 360-2777
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater: (212) 988-9093
Tennis: (212) 280-0205
Weddings, Ceremonies and Photography at the Conservatory Garden: (212) 360-2766
Wildlife Center & Tisch Children's Zoo: (212) 439-6500