McGowan's Pass, Historical pass in Central Park, Manhattan, US
McGowan's Pass is a rocky pass in the northern section of Central Park in Manhattan, where the East Drive meets 107th Street, marked by steep rock outcrops and a winding path that climbs through hilly terrain. The ground rises noticeably as you walk through, with old rock formations and tree cover forming a natural corridor through the park.
In 1776, both British and American forces used the pass as a military position during the fighting in Manhattan in the Revolutionary War. Decades later, during the War of 1812, new fortifications were built here to control the approach to the city.
The pass follows the old course of Kingsbridge Road, which grew out of a Lenape trail and became the main colonial road through this part of Manhattan. Visitors walking through today are moving along the same high ground that people have crossed for centuries.
The pass sits in the northern part of Central Park and is easy to reach on foot from the East Drive or 107th Street. The paths are steep and uneven in places, so good footwear and a steady pace are helpful.
During work in 2013, archaeologists found the foundation of an old gatehouse and sections of Kingsbridge Road preserved just beneath the surface of the park. This shows that the historic road was not torn up when the park was built, but simply buried under the new ground.
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