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Photos: Inside The Gorgeous Gimbels Traverse On 32nd Street
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 23, 2014
Modified Jun 23, 2014
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 23, 2014
Modified Jun 23, 2014
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Photo via mercurialn's flickr
The Gimbels traverse—or skybridge, if you prefer—on 32nd Street is probably one of the most gorgeous in the city. If you've passed under it, you've likely photographed the 3-story tall art deco beauty... but what is it like inside?
Alexander Rea recently got a brief look inside of the space, which hovers between 6th and 7th Avenues. Rea works in the old Gimbels building (now the Manhattan Mall), and originally shared the photos with the Bowery Boys, who note the traverse "spends most its existence sealed off and empty," and that "the copper bridge (now, like the Statue of Liberty, in bright verdigris) has been left virtually intact."
Photo by Alexander Rea
There's even some old signage amongst the chipped paint:
Photo by Alexander Rea
The traverse was built in 1925 to connect Gimbels' Herald Square store with its newer annex, which was created as a competitive move against Macy's. Gimbels had wanted to "branch out to a more ‘fashionable’ street," 5th Avenue. It was designed by Richmond Shreve and William Lamb, who went on to become principal designers of the Empire State Building.
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gimbels
skybridge
traverse
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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