William Shakespeare

The bronze portrait shows the playwright in a thoughtful pose with his right arm raised on a decorated base. The figure stands near the southern area of the Mall, surrounded by other artworks throughout the park.

A group of prominent New Yorkers formed a committee in 1864 to create a monument for the playwright's 300th birth anniversary. The finished work was installed in 1872 after several years of creation.

The statue sits within Literary Walk, a section of the park dedicated to writers. It shows how important literature and dramatic works were to people in New York and remain so today.

The sculpture is located in the mid-park area near 66th Street and is easy to reach from several park entrances. It stands near the Shakespeare Garden, making it possible to visit multiple sites in one trip.

The sculptor John Quincy Adams Ward created the statue using three different contemporary portraits of the playwright. This approach allowed him to produce an accurate and believable likeness.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1870

Creator: John Quincy Adams Ward

Made from material: bronze

Website: https://nycgovparks.org/parks/central-park/monuments/1431

GPS coordinates: 40.76980,-73.97237

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:43