Distributing Reservoir — Capacity 20,000,000 Gallons

The Croton Distributing Reservoir on Murray Hill, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. This Egyptian Revival structure, with walls 44 feet high and 25 feet thick at the base, held 20 million gallons of Croton water. New Yorkers promenaded along the top for panoramic city views. Demolished 1899-1900; the New York Public Library Main Branch now stands on its exact footprint.

Date: c.1842-1890 Location: Fifth Ave & 42nd St, Manhattan (now NYPL Main Branch) Type: engraving Subjects: reservoir, building, people, horse Source: NYPL, Eno Collection of New York City Views License: Public domain