Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Obelisk Photos

    Recommended Reviews - The Obelisk

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    The Obelisk in Central Park- captured on film.
    Mary F.

    Photos don't do it justice. It's incredible to see in person. It's hard to believe after all this time- being outside facing the elements- there's so much detail. Must see in the city.

    Central Park Obelisk, New York
    Bruce K.

    Well, this is out of place. It's actually a 15th century BC (yes, 3500 years old) obelisk and was installed in Central Park in 1881. The obelisk was a gift to the United States in 1877 as thanks for remaining friendly and neutral while France and Britain tried to control the Egyptian government. The obelisk is nearly 70 feet tall and is made of red granite. It was originally erected in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis on the orders of Thutmose III, in 1475 BC. It's granite, so the thing looks quite new though the hieroglyphs have faded some in the last 150 years. It stands proudly on a small raised mound in Central Park, anchored in bedrock. The spot is named Greywacke Knoll. Only about 30 such obelisks are still in existence worldwide. This is the only one in North America. I've seen the Obelisk of Theodosius in Istanbul https://www.yelp.com/biz/at-meydanı-istanbul?hrid=YBLUJr28LXTdLyf3k6gbfA and the Boboli Obelisk in Florence https://www.yelp.com/biz/giardino-di-boboli-firenze-2?hrid=y57Tkg8IzvrCmpjuM_4htw. If you're in Central Park, stop and check it out. Read the translation of the hieroglyphics. [Review 18374 overall - 372 in New York - 1896 of 2022.]

    The translation. 04/23/21
    Marianne W.

    Central Park Obelisk really has the name Cleopatra's Needle. I took a photo of the plaque that's displayed on one side. What I read was impressive. It's a gift from Egypt. As I was reading the structure was teetering above me in all it's beautiful splendor. The base is unusual with what reminded me of Lobster Claws. I sat down on one of the benches that lines the circle where the obelisk is located. It was then that I noticed one side of the obelisk is worn down. That was concerning to me. The weather appears to be taking its toll on this beautiful structure. The hieroglyphics are translated for you. Read the plaque on the base. I took a photo. I'm certainly glad I visited to get a close look. I've passed this way many times but failed to take an interest in the obelisk. I have a new appreciation for Cleopatra's Needle. I recommend you visit!

    Geoffrey S.

    You don't own history, or it's custodian. You can either walk along side it, be part of it, or like this ancient relic, survive it. The true origins are lost to antiquity... however it is a reminder of a lost age and a forgotten time. It was my honor to spend some time with it, and at 51, the wait well worth it. May others take as much enjoyment as it has brought to me.

    Phil H.

    As someone who runs the loop in this park on a consistent basis I have passed by the obelisk so many times I've lost count. Pretty cool Egyptian artifact known as Cleopatra's Needle. I use it as a marker for when I'm heading back to the UES and know my run is almost done when it comes into view. Knowing how 2020 went I'm surprised this thing didn't summon mummies to attack us.

    See all

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alisa J.
    243
    2021
    7055

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Mary F.
    2
    39
    116

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bruce K.
    2415
    26089
    76954

    4 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 53
    Thanks 0
    Love this 56
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 0
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Leila R.
    1111
    1645
    23902

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - The Obelisk

    Review Highlights - The Obelisk

    I took a bunch of pictures while processing the fact that this was an ancient Egyptian artifact with hieroglyphs still legible.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Landmarks & Historical Buildings 5,242 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Bowery Savings Bank Building

    Bowery Savings Bank Building

    5.0(3 reviews)
    2.0 miMidtown East, Murray Hill

    Tour historic buildings and designated landmarks of New York. Bowery Savings Bank building is one…read moreof many historic. Any history buff or avid amateur architecture enthusiasts would have a full appreciation and admiration of this stone building as old world architectural craft is no longer in use. This building still stands with the passage of time and nature's elements. The correct location of Bowery Savings Bank Building is in Chinatown, Lower Manhattan- NOT Midtown East, Murray Hill. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=132531

    You might find a few Bowery Bums in the doorway of the Bowery Savings Bank Building, but it's New…read moreYork, and more to the point it's the USA, and that goes with the territory. This building is very special to me because when I needed to get my citizenship it was here that my awesome lawyer (whose office is in the upper reaches of this magnificent building) helped me through the process and got me over the line - and I will always be grateful for that. He's David Gottfried of Gottfried & Gottfried, by the way. I would recommend him to anyone as the perfect immigration lawyer for my situation and I wish nothing but the best for him. As for the building it's a typical old rustic early 20th century New York stunner, and it seems haunted. They do make you go through a security check to get up inside here but then so does Barbie with her clients.

    Photos
    Bowery Savings Bank Building - Exterior

    Exterior

    Bowery Savings Bank Building - Lil Bowery Wow

    Lil Bowery Wow

    Bowery Savings Bank Building

    See all

    Van Gogh's Ear - Van Gogh's Ear, a public art sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset

    Van Gogh's Ear

    5.0(3 reviews)
    1.6 miMidtown East, Midtown West

    Don't look for this work of art. It's not there. If you were lucky enough to see it, write a…read morereview. It's pretty cool if you stare and stare. Then all of a sudden you realize what you're looking at! My photos are from April 14, 2016. It was a beautiful Spring Day. I am enjoying reminiciing about today during the Arctic Blast!

    "Van Gogh's Ear", a public art sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset, is in place at 30 Rockefeller…read morePlaza, right across the street from the entrance to Sak's 5th Ave. The sculpture, by the same duo that brought us the Prada Marfa Store in the middle of the Texas desert, is a tribute to the ready-made style of Marcel Duchamp. The sculpture is a 30 foot tall swimming pool, taken out of its normal context and displayed in its side with a diving board built in at the top. One of my favorite elements are the working lights on the inside left and right of the pool sculpture. Being that it's out of context - a recreational object in the middle of a commercial center - it creates a sense of longing and desire for recreation over industry and gives you an off-kilter feeling (why am I going to work when I could be swimming!). Overall a great piece of colorful public art at placed I a great spot for the perfect season. The piece is on display from April 13th though June 3rd, 2016. Catch it while you can!

    Photos
    Van Gogh's Ear - The sign for Elmgreen & Dragset's piece "Van Gogh's Ear"

    The sign for Elmgreen & Dragset's piece "Van Gogh's Ear"

    Van Gogh's Ear - Van Gogh's Ear beautifully backlit by NYC last night.

    Van Gogh's Ear beautifully backlit by NYC last night.

    Van Gogh's Ear - They removed the street-side barricades.

    See all

    They removed the street-side barricades.

    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Plaque

    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Plaque

    5.0(1 review)
    1.9 miMidtown East

    "Don't know much about history Don't know much biology…read moreDon't know much about a science book Don't know much about the French I took" (Sam Cooke) I guess you can call me a history nerd. After all, I did major in history and rarely walk past a plaque or memorial or marker that I don't stop to read and more than likely Yelp. So when we were walking out to the street from Grand Central Station's Park Avenue/East 42nd Street entry and saw a wall plaque with the portrait of a familiar woman, I just had to stop and check it out. The portrait was of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Those of my generation will always remember the traumatic and terribly sad photographs of her from Dallas on November 22, 1963 with her pink pill box hat and her blood splattered pink dress. Twelve years after JFK's assassination the former First lady was engaged in a high stakes 1975 battle to save one of her hometown's iconic landmarks. At issue was a plan to take the wrecking ball to New York City's Grand Station Terminal and demolish it, just as Penn Station has been demolished and rebuilt in 1964. She became outraged when she learned of the plan and led a coalition of New Yorkers and the the Municipal Art Society to stop it. She was the star of a famous press conference from Grand Central and declared "If we don't care about our past we can't have very much hope for our future, we've all heard that it's too late, or that it has to happen, that it's inevitable. But I don't think that's true. Because I think if there is a great effort, even if it's the eleventh hour, then you can succeed and I know that's what we'll do." She also wrote an eloquent letter to NYC 's Mayor Beame and asked him "...is it not cruel to let our city die by degrees, stripped of all her proud moments, until there is nothing left of all her history and beauty to inspire our children? If they are not inspired by the past of our city, where will they find the strength to fight for her future? Americans care about their past, but for short term gain they ignore it and tear down everything that matters..." The plaque was dedicated on June 24, 2014 to mark renovations to the station's main entrance. The renovations honor her legacy with photographs, a video display, and the plaque. The entry itself was renamed "The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Foyer".

    Photos
    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Plaque

    See all

    Empire State Building - Photo opportunity with King Kong himself

    Empire State Building

    4.0(2.4k reviews)
    2.4 miKoreatown, Midtown West

    Wow! What an amazing and immersive experience! The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco…read moreskyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, famous for its iconic design, rapid construction, and its status as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years. My wife was a bit reluctant to go on this tour (she's scared of heights, obviously), but somehow I managed to convince her (with my charm of course). And she was so happy I did. The Empire State Building remains a defining global symbol of New York City. Its total height reaches 1,454 feet (now that's tall). I'd be lying if I didn't say that was a bit intimidating. But when we got to the 86th floor (observation deck), there was an apparent stillness and quietness in the air. Kind of peaceful! Looking down from above, everything seemed minuscule- like the world below us was built with little tiny Legos. It truly was quite the experience!

    This is a review of purchasing your tickets online ahead of time. DO NOT get scammed by the Empire…read moreState Building. Let me explain. DO NOT book in advance unless you know all the conditions of NYC, the Empire State building and whatever else the DAY OF your visit while you are standing in NYC. Better to wait in line because you know that you are able to go to observation deck. Or call them if they are opened before making the trek to get into a line. I have wanted to go here and see the building. It has a wonderful history. I had my day in NYC. Check. I had my flight to NYC. Check. I saw the weather the day of good. Check. I got my ticket to Empire State Building. Check. My problem, I do not live in NYC. The day before getting to NYC, there were severe flooding and possible tornado. My flight got canceled, I was stuck in DC. I called the Empire State Building to ask about a refund and the employee on the phone said they had to cancel tickets for all the people that day due to bad views and storms! She said contact the sales and maybe they will give me a refund. I emailed and immediate reply.. no refunds per our website. I explained that my flight was cancelled and that it was not myself that was causing the issue. No response. I even asked for a voucher for a future visit since I go to NYC for work in a few months. No response. Yes, the website warns you "Tickets are non-refundable. No refunds due to weather conditions, length of lines, or wait times at the building. The Empire State Building reserves the right to close the Observatory early on very busy." So not only myself but potentially hundreds of people were denied entry to Empire State Building because of the storms and lost $57 (cheapest ticket). Do yourself a favor and don't book in advance and wait till the day of so you can assess the situation, call them to confirm if they are letting people up to the observation deck and then go purchase a ticket. No desire to go on a tour in the future. Off my list. There are many other cool things to see/do in NYC.

    Photos
    Empire State Building - King Kong poster

    King Kong poster

    Empire State Building - Ahhhh godzilla got me

    Ahhhh godzilla got me

    Empire State Building - Empire State Building image 2023

    See all

    Empire State Building image 2023

    The Obelisk - landmarks - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...