The Central Park Lake As Seen From The Schiller Monument 1891

We are returning to another unique New York view taken for The Albertype Company in 1891.

Featured is the Central Park Lake. Beyond the lake along Central Park West we see the Dakota Apartment building (left) between 72nd and 73rd Streets. Two blocks away, partially seen is the nearly completed Hotel San Remo between 74th and 75th Streets.

Though it initially appears there are two boys in the photo, there are actually four boys. Here’s a closer look.

The photograph’s location is described as “Lake View From Schiller Statue.”

The Schiller Monument is currently near Central Park’s  Mall opposite the Naumburg Bandshell. This would be a location anachronism as this view of the lake would be nowhere near the mall.

Schiller Monument 1942 photo: Marjory Collins

But, originally the Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller monument was placed in The Ramble opposite 76th Street in 1859.

Schiller monument in Ramble c. 1870

Schiller monument (on right) with Lake view

Ask a thousand people visiting Central Park and I would think not one would know who Schiller was. In addition, it is doubtful anyone would know that this was the first sculpture installed in Central Park.

Schiller (1759–1805) was a German historian, naturalist and writer of the plays Wilhelm Tell, Mary Stuart, and Wallenstein. Central Park’s website says “both Schiller’s literary and human rights work were admired at home and abroad”

On the original granite pedestal the following was engraved in German:

SCHILLER
ZUR
HUNDERTJAHRIGEN
GEBURTSTAGSFEIER
DEN 9TH NOVEMBER, 1859
DIE DEUTSCHEN IN NEW YORK

translated:

SCHILLER
ON THE
CENTENARY
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 1859
THE GERMANS IN NEW YORK

When the monument was moved to its current location in 1954 the original base was replaced with a new inscription.

JOHANN CHRISTOPH FRIEDRICH VON SCHILLER
1759 – 1805
POET
DRAMATIST
HISTORIAN