The West Side Story Before “West Side Story”

We’ll begin at Columbus Circle with a discussion of its farmland origins, its evolution into being one of the city’s theatre districts, and its juxtaposition to San Juan Hill, once considered one of the most dangerous parts of the city and the backdrop for “West Side Story.” We’ll discuss the development and impact of Lincoln Center, and overall, the history and rich diversity of the area from Central Park to Broadway, ending at The Dakota.