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More Fun With Google Maps
By
Jacob Dobkin
Published Jan 24, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jacob Dobkin
Published Jan 24, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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In our earlier post on the new Google Maps satellite images, one of our amazing commenters pointed out this curious bi-plane on the roof of a building at 77 Water Street, and asked for help identifying it. Quick as lightning, another commenter found the answer on NYC-Architecture:
The biplane on the roof sculpture was designed by some guy named Rudolph de Harak and executed by the sculptor William Tarr in 1969 (thanks Jack Ryan). Apparently it's a full-size model of a WW1 Sopwith Camel, complete with runway. It was put there to amuse inhabitants of surrounding scyscrapers, notably the WTC.
Awesome stuff! [Related: here's another angle on the bi-plane, from WLL.]
Tagged
architecture
commenters
google maps
jack ryan
lightning
maps
nyc
plane
sculpture
water street
Jacob Dobkin
Jake Dobkin co-founded Gothamist with Jen Chung. In 2019, Jake released Ask a Native New Yorker, a book based on his Gothamist advice column.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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