The Crystal Palace, also known as the Great Exhibition Hall, burned down in 1858. In 1853, the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations with the New York Crystal Palace, featuring thousands of exhibitors, took place in the park. It was called "Reservoir Square" after the Croton Distributing Reservoir, which was erected on the eastern side of the park site due to its elevated location. The first park at this site opened in 1847, though that park was never legally named. Beginning in 1823, Bryant Park was designated a potter's field (a graveyard for the poor) and remained so until 1840, when thousands of bodies were moved to Wards Island. The road upon which Washington's troops retreated traversed the park site diagonally. George Washington's troops crossed the area while retreating from the Battle of Long Island in 1776. In 1686, when the area was still a wilderness, New York's colonial governor, Thomas Dongan, designated the area now known as Bryant Park as a public space. History Early history Painting of the New York Crystal Palace, 1853 The park is both a National Register of Historic Places listing and a New York City designated landmark. The park is cited as a model for the success of public-private partnerships. Though it is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Bryant Park is managed by the private not-for-profit organization Bryant Park Corporation, which was founded in 1980 and led the restoration of Bryant Park. Further improvements were made in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, during which the park was rebuilt and the library's stacks were built underneath. After a period of decline, it was restored in 1988–1992 by architecture firms Hanna/Olin Ltd. Bryant Park was rebuilt in 1933–1934 to a plan by Lusby Simpson. The reservoir was demolished in 1900 and the New York Public Library's main branch was built on the site, opening in 1911. The square was renamed in 1884 for abolitionist and journalist William Cullen Bryant. Reservoir Square contained the New York Crystal Palace, which hosted the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in 1853 and burned down in 1858. The first park at the site was opened in 1847 and was called Reservoir Square due to its proximity to the Croton Distributing Reservoir. The park hosts several events, including a seasonal "Winter Village" with an ice rink and shops during the winter. The western half, which contains a lawn, shaded walkways, and amenities such as a carousel, is located entirely over an underground structure that houses the library's stacks. The eastern half of Bryant Park is occupied by the Main Branch of the New York Public Library. Privately managed, it is located between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas ( Sixth Avenue) and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan.
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