Long Island City, Urban neighborhood in Queens, United States
Long Island City is a neighborhood in western Queens that stretches along the East River across from Manhattan. Residential towers, office buildings, and warehouses alternate along wide streets, while waterfront parks offer views of the skyline.
The area developed rapidly as an industrial site after 1870, as factories and warehouses took advantage of proximity to the waterway. Construction of the Queensboro Bridge in 1909 brought a direct connection to Manhattan and accelerated growth considerably.
MoMA PS1 shows contemporary art in a former school building from the 1890s, while The Noguchi Museum holds around 240 sculptures by the Japanese-American artist. Both institutions use the large rooms of old industrial buildings to present works and installations.
Multiple subway lines connect the area to Midtown Manhattan in less than 10 minutes, with stops along Queens Plaza and at Court Square. Most points within the neighborhood are easy to reach on foot, while ferries at Gantry Plaza offer additional connections.
A red Pepsi-Cola sign from 1936 stands about 40 feet (12 meters) tall at Gantry Plaza State Park and is illuminated at night. The landmark recalls the bottling plant that once operated here.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
