Cleopatra's Needles

This ancient Egyptian obelisk stands approximately 69 feet (21 meters) tall and weighs around 200 tons (181 metric tons), made of red granite quarried from Aswan with hieroglyphic inscriptions covering all four sides.

Originally erected in Heliopolis around 1450 BC during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III and later inscribed by Ramesses II, the obelisk was transported from Alexandria to New York City and installed in Central Park in February 1881.

The monument symbolizes the 19th-century fascination with ancient Egypt and was gifted to the United States by the Khedive of Egypt, representing diplomatic relations and cultural exchange between the two nations during that era.

Located near East 81st Street in Central Park, the monument is wheelchair accessible and can be viewed daily from 6:00 AM to 1:00 AM, attracting visitors interested in ancient Egyptian history and archaeology.

A time capsule was buried beneath the obelisk during installation, containing items such as a Bible, works by William Shakespeare, a United States census, and a guide to Egypt for future generations to discover.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: February 22, 1881

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Made from material: granite

Address: E 81st St, New York, NY 10024, USA 10024 New York

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 06:00-01:00

Phone: +12123106600

Website: https://centralparknyc.org/locations/obelisk

GPS coordinates: 40.77964,-73.96540

Latest update: November 28, 2025 15:19