In Walt Whitman’s time, New York City was comprised only of the island of Manhattan, which served as inspiration for the poet’s verses. On March 26, the anniversary of Whitman’s death, Louise Harpman, a professor at NYU’s Gallatin School, will retrace the length of Whitman’s New York City in Gallatin’s inaugural “Big Walk: Manhattan, Tip to Tail.”

NYU Gallatin’s “Big Walk: Manhattan, Tip to Tail” Highlights America’s Most Famous Thoroughfare—March 26

In Walt Whitman’s time, New York City was comprised only of the island of Manhattan, which served as inspiration for the poet’s verses. 

On Saturday, March 26, the anniversary of Whitman’s death, Louise Harpman, a professor at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and principal at the architecture and design firm Specht Harpman, will retrace the length of Whitman’s New York City in Gallatin’s inaugural “Big Walk: Manhattan, Tip to Tail.” The walk begins at 8 a.m. at the corner of 215th Street and Broadway.

The walk, which will take place rain or shine, commences at the northern tip of Manhattan and follows Broadway all the way down to South Ferry in lower Manhattan. Participants will see and learn about the history of the city and its architecture, including the many Revolutionary War sites in Upper Manhattan and Trinity Cemetery, where Alexander Hamilton and Albert Gallatin, the School’s namesake, are buried. The eight-hour excursion will include lunch near Lincoln Center, early afternoon refreshments at the Gallatin School, and a special finish-line celebration at South Ferry.

The event, which also coincides with the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Manhattan’s street grid, is open only to the NYU Gallatin community, but reporters wishing to join the excursion must RSVP to James Devitt, NYU’s Office of Public Affairs, at 212.998.6808 or james.devitt@nyu.edu.

Press Contact

James Devitt
James Devitt
(212) 998-6808