American Lives

The High Line in New York is an elevated public park in the lower west side of Manhattan, along the Hudson River. The park runs along a mile-and-a-half (2.4-kilometer) stretch which used to be an elevated railroad. Local neighborhoods conceived of the park to prevent the planned demolition of an unused freight railroad which had ceased to service the area in 1980.

The park was designed by two architectural companies (James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro, along with a planting designer, Piet Oudolf). Sections of the park opened at different times: the first in 2009 and the last in 2019.

This structure is called the 'Vessel' and is found at the Hudson Yards entrance to the High Line. The building is a giant staircase which allows views of the city from different heights and vantages. The external surface is bronze-colored stainless steel and glass.

This structure, the 'Shed', is a non-profit cultural center which is used to exhibit art. It also houses a theater and labs for artists and performers. The building is able to change size by moving its shell along rails.

This section of the High Line park is known as 'the grasslands', which allows a glimpse of the original railroad metals still in place.

A painted bronze sculpture by Derek Fordjour, one of many of his pieces along the route celebrating Black culture.

Part of the High Line path. The two sculptures on the left, by the Cambodian artist Sopheap Pich, are part of a group of three entitled Kânh Chhrôôl (Gluta Usitata), Melembu, and Khlông (Dipterocarpus Tuberculatus). They are made of copper and steel. They are intended to represent seed pods from certain hardwood trees at the National Museum of Cambodia. The trees have become rare, as poachers cut them down for their valuable timber.

The unusual building in the center of this shot is a luxury apartment building which is called HL23.

A view of New York City from the High Line. The mural on the building in the lower center has paintings of Mother Teresa and Gandhi. Far in the background is the Empire State building. The unusual black-and-white building just to the right of the mural is 459 West 18th Street, in the Chelsea section of the city. It is an eleven-story luxury condominium whose design was prompted by complicated city regulations.