Bethesda Terrace

Description

One of the most iconic and well-known features in Central Park is Bethesda Terrace, a large plaza consisting of two levels as well as an Arcade and a Fountain.

Located in the heart of the Park, Bethesda Terrace is found at the north end of the long, tree-lined promenade known as the Mall and overlooks the Ramble and the Lake. The Terrace is a popular destination for relaxing, people-watching, and admiring the architecture and the scenery. At the center of the Terrace stands Bethesda Fountain, also known as Angel of the Waters, one of the Park’s most beloved works of art.

Bethesda Terrace

Bethesda Terrace was intended as a gathering space for Park visitors. It was also conceived of as the Park’s most prominent display of art and architecture and one of its few formal landscapes, providing a contrast to the more naturalistic design of the rest of the Park.

As with all other parts of the Terrace, this interior space is heavily ornamented. Its most notable feature is the ceiling composed of nearly 16,000 tiles, which come together to form 49 panels creating an elaborate geometric pattern. It is the only ceiling in the world featuring encaustic or inlaid tiles, which were more typically used as flooring. They were manufactured by the Minton tile company in Stoke-on-Trent in England.

Over the decades, various factors, including the extraordinary weight of the ceiling, led to its deterioration. In 1983, the Central Park Conservancy removed the tiles and safely stored them until it raised the $7 million required to complete their restoration. Beginning in 2002, the Conservancy worked to clean, repair, and repaint the tiles, and in some cases replaced heavily damaged tiles with new ones manufactured by the Minton tile company. The project also involved new waterproofing, steel supports, and lighting. The work was completed in 2007.
Famous films

Spin Doctors: Two Princes

The Avengers – At the end of the film Thor takes Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard and the rest of the Avengers team goes their separate ways.

Enchanted Giselle’s song ends in front of Bethesda fountain.

Stuart Little 2 -In the 2002 movie Stuart Little 2, the scene where Falcon and Stuart are in a high-speed air chase.

Home Alone 2: Lost In New York -When Kevin flees the wet bandits’ kidnapping outside The Plaza, he runs to Bethesda Terrace in Central Park.

Mr. Deeds -Adam Sandler and Winona Ryder ride bikes to Central Park on a date and stop at Bethesda fountain.