Union Square is a Manhattan park and gathering place where Broadway and Fourth Avenue meet. Its open paths have hosted markets, celebrations and labor demonstrations, carrying a civic role that stretches from the nineteenth century into the present.
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The park’s name describes its geography: Union Square sits where two important routes, Broadway and Fourth Avenue, come together. Since opening in 1839, it has also been a place where people gather for commerce, recreation and public expression.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Union Square Park opened in 1839.
- Olmsted and Vaux redesigned it in 1872.
- The first Labor Day parade passed through Union Square in 1882.
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