The Dakota

The Dakota spans ten stories with walls of dark sandstone and terracotta ornaments, arranged around a central courtyard that divides the building into four sections. Numerous balconies face both the street and the interior courtyard, accessible through arched passageways that frame the main entrance on West 72nd Street.

Edward Clark commissioned this residential complex between 1880 and 1884, creating the first luxury apartment building on the Upper West Side when the area was sparsely developed. The name reflects how remote the location seemed at the time, as isolated as the Dakota Territory in the western United States.

Fans regularly gather outside to leave flowers and pay their respects, creating a place of pilgrimage linked to the memory of John Lennon. The Strawberry Fields memorial across the street draws visitors who often stop at the entrance before walking through Central Park.

The building houses 65 apartments with layouts ranging from four to twenty rooms, and access is restricted to residents who undergo review by the cooperative board. Visitors can only view the exterior and main entrance from the sidewalk, as the courtyard and interior remain private property with no public admission.

Each apartment follows a distinct floor plan with high ceilings and floors crafted from marble, mahogany, and cherry wood, reflecting the original luxury standards of the era. The architecture draws from German Renaissance style with French and English influences, giving the building a more European character than most contemporary New York constructions.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: October 27, 1884

Architects: Henry Janeway Hardenbergh

Official opening: October 27, 1884

Architectural style: Gothic Revival, Renaissance Revival architecture

Floors above the ground: 10

Part of: Central Park West Historic District

GPS coordinates: 40.77667,-73.97639

Latest update: December 12, 2025 19:31