A 13-foot statue of Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale stands tall in City Hall Park. Yet no one seems to know for sure where he was actually executed for spying on the British.
There are two competing locations. A plaque posted on a Banana Republic store at Third Avenue and 66th Street claims that the 21-year-old American spy was strung up on a gallows within 100 yards of that site on September 22, 1776.
The information comes from a British Officer’s diary, which stated that the hanging occurred at “the Royal Artillery Park near the Dove Tavern at the old Post Road, now Third Avenue. . . .”
But there’s another plaque, on East 44th Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, that says this is the location of Hale’s execution and that the “British Artillery Park” existed here.
The building the plaque (below) is affixed to belongs to the Yale Club. Hale was a Yale graduate, class of 1773.
Tags: American Spies, British Artillery Park, City Hall Park, Famous Spies, Nathan Hale, Revolutionary War hero, Revolutionary War in New York City, Royal Artillery Park, Yale Club, Yale University
July 16, 2009 at 2:59 pm |
Interesting debate!
July 16, 2009 at 3:37 pm |
well the plaque says “near this site”, so that could refer to the 3rd avenue location. he was actually captured on long island, which apparently was a battleground for spying during the war.
July 16, 2009 at 3:52 pm |
You’re right, I should have said near, not at. I guess in 1776, East 66th Street was considered near 44th Street.
July 17, 2009 at 11:46 am |
How did you get to take that picture? That statue is behind the City Hall security fence. They would not let me in without an appointment
July 17, 2009 at 2:37 pm |
It’s an old photo. I didn’t know Nathan Hale is no longer accessible to the public.
August 26, 2009 at 4:32 pm |
The statue used to be at City Hall Park by Broadway near the N train station. I have a photo of the statue as well circa 2000.