Broadway, Theatre district street in Manhattan, US
Broadway is a street in Manhattan that extends 13 miles (21 kilometers) from Bowling Green to Inwood Hill Park, featuring numerous theaters and commercial establishments along its path. The street runs diagonally through Manhattan's rectangular grid, creating notable plazas such as Times Square and Herald Square.
The street originated from a Native American trail called Wickquasgeck, which Dutch colonists expanded into a main road within their settlement of New Amsterdam. In the 19th century, the area around Times Square developed into the theater district after Oscar Hammerstein I opened the Olympia Theatre there.
The section between 42nd and 53rd Streets contains 41 professional theaters that present performances ranging from traditional plays to contemporary musical productions. The neon signs and marquees define the streetscape and draw visitors from around the world every day.
Multiple subway lines connect to the street, with stations positioned at regular intervals, making access possible from all parts of New York City. The sidewalks can become very crowded between 42nd and 53rd Streets in the evening when theatergoers arrive and depart.
The Canyon of Heroes section hosts traditional ticker-tape parades celebrating achievements in sports, military service, and civic accomplishments. City authorities have installed more than 200 granite plaques in the sidewalks there, recording each honored person or group.
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