Cozy season has kicked off with fervor: the Winter Solstice brought the first snow of the season in NYC on Saturday, December 21st, and we could possibly see snow on Christmas. However, the fact that the Bryant Park fountain froze is a true testament to the cold weather in NYC.
As of Monday, December 23rd, 2024, the iconic attraction in the Midtown green space had icicles oozing from every direction. Considering our morning began at a super-cool 14 degrees, we weren’t surprised by this development. The park took to Instagram in the early afternoon to reveal the stunning, super-cool spectacle.
See the frozen Bryant Park fountain & learn about its history
Although the fountain makes for a great photo opp for tourists and residents alike, not many know its history: Architect Charles A. Platt designed it in honor of social worker and reformer Josephine Shaw Lowell. She was the first female member of the New York State Board of Charities in 1876, where she served for 13 years. Additionally, it’s believed she is the first woman to be honored by a major monument in New York City.
The monument in Shaw’s memory saw a bit of a move as well: originally, according to the NYC Parks Department, the Memorial Committee felt as though it should’ve been placed in in Corlear’s Hook Park, as most of her efforts took place on the Lower East Side. However, it ultimately found a home in Bryant Park in 1913, and later moved to the west side of the space where it remains today. It underwent refurbishing in 1992.
And as of 2024, it froze a mere three days into the season. If this is any indication of what’s ahead, looks like — as they famously say in Game of Thrones — winter is coming!