Times Square was once the headquarters of the New York Times, and that is where its name comes from. Although it is called a square, it is not actually one. It is an intersection at 42nd and Broadway in Manhattan. It is easy to see with a Van Rental in New York City.
{ Times Square Cam – EarthCam }
Times Square consists of the blocks between 6th and 9th Avenues from east to west and 39th and 52 Streets from north to south. It is part of the western part of Midtown Manhattan.
When the Times publisher moved the paper’s operations to the area, he convinced the mayor of New York City to build a subway station in the area and name it Times Square. The name stuck, even though the paper moved in 1913. Today it is still famous as the site of the New Year’s Eve ball drop, seen by millions of people.
If you are here with a Van Rental in New York City around the holidays, you too can see the Waterford crystal ball drop at midnight and be a part of the celebrations. There are many live performances on this night. Most years there are about 750,000 people in the Square for New Year’s Eve, but on the eve of the millennium it is said that there were up to 2 million people. This was the largest gathering in the area since August 1945 when the Second World War ended. Times Square is also one of the cultural hubs of Manhattan.
There are many theaters, music halls, and hotels in the area that attract many visitors. Come see it with your 15 passenger van rental in New York City. In the 1920s Fred Astaire and Charlie Chaplin were associated with the area. During the Great Depression it became known as an area of peep shows, erotic movie houses, and cheap tourist merchandise. The play Guys and Dolls is a great representation of this change in the area.
From the 1960s until the 1990s the area was a symbol of danger and corruption because of the high crime rates in the area. But in the mid-1990s Mayor Rudolph Giuliani increased the police presence in the area and made it more tourist-friendly. Many of the sex shops have been closed and up-scale establishments opened up. There are nine historic theaters on 42nd Street that are now owned by the state.
They have either been renovated or demolished. Come down with your 15 passenger van rental in New York City to see Times Square.
Times Square is easily one of the most recognizable symbols of New York. You could be blind-folded and dropped there with a Van Rental in New York City and still know where you are. This is the only area of New York that requires tenants to display bright signs, rivaling Las Vegas! This is where you will find the NASDAQ sign, Toys “R” Us, Virgin Records, and much more. You can even catch some of your favorite shows from Times Square. Good Morning America and TRL are both filmed live here.
Come on down with your 15 passenger van rental in New York City to see this amazing place in Manhattan. There are many live webcams that tape Times Square at all times of the day. You can check them out online before you go, but remember you too may be caught on film when you visit with your 15 passenger van rental in New York City. So, bring your comfortable shoes and explore some of the great stores around here!
