Category: Streets

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The stars, bars, bubbles, and petals of Manhattan manhole covers — Ephemeral New York

Underfoot all over New York City are late 19th and early 20th century manhole covers embossed with unusual shapes and designs. There’s a practical purpose for this: raised detailing helped prevent people from slipping (and horses from skidding) as they traversed Gotham’s streets in wet weather. They’re also a form of branding. The city’s many […]

The stars, bars, bubbles, and petals of Manhattan manhole covers — Ephemeral New York