The map below visualizes the flora and geographic features of northern Manhattan (north is to the right; it’s as though the map is representing Manhattan lying down for a nap…). The cartographer then superimposed revolutionary war troop movements and skirmishes, and the oddly anachronistic Commissioners' Plan’s grid of roads on the map:

You can see that several battles took place in and around Morningside Heights and in the valley where the Grant Houses are, and 125th Street cuts across the island.  (The red lines represent British Loyalist troops. The blue lines represent George Washington’s troops in retreat.)

For a detailed look at what would become Marcus Garvey Park, note the map detail below. You can also see a few Dutch-era roads that were eliminated once the grid took hold and a few other interesting historical features:

In the detail below, the faint lines going from bottom left to top right were the original boundaries between New York City and Harlem - before Harlem was incorporated into New York City:

To see the map in its entirety, see:

https://www.geographicus.com/P/AntiqueMap/ManhattanHarlemHeights-rogers-1868

Coal Stars

A cast iron coal chute cover with embossed stars

still embedded in the sidewalk.