The History Of Lincoln Center

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Lincoln Center stands as one of New York City’s greatest cultural landmarks. Home to world-renowned performing arts organizations, the sprawling campus transformed an aging Manhattan neighborhood into an international destination for music, dance, opera, and theater, and became one of the city’s most recognizable architectural achievements.

In the 1987 film Moonstruck, Loretta and Johnny meet for an opera date at Lincoln Center. The flowing fountain and the pageantry of elegantly dressed patrons attending the performance depicted New York romance at its finest. The opulent lighting and sweeping grand staircases represent the very best of New York’s sophisticated architectural design. There was, however, a long road to the completion of Lincoln Center, and it is still considered by some to be the “new” home of the Metropolitan Opera.

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts spans 16.3 acres on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The center is the pinnacle of New York City’s fine arts community, serving as home to the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic, The Juilliard School, and the Metropolitan Opera.

The Metropolitan Opera and the Birth of Lincoln Center

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The Metropolitan Opera already had a home in New York City beginning in 1880, when a group of wealthy patrons decided that the city’s growing population needed an alternative to the exclusive Academy of Music. The Academy largely catered to New York’s established elite, while the Metropolitan Opera welcomed newly wealthy families such as the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers by reserving elegant boxes for them. It is hard to believe today that these famous New York families were once viewed as outsiders and excluded from certain social circles. At the same time, ticket prices were affordable enough that working-class New Yorkers could save for general admission and enjoy world-class performances. In 1883, the Metropolitan Opera House opened its doors at 39th Street and Broadway.

The twentieth century transformed New York City in dramatic ways. The neighborhood that would eventually become Lincoln Center was home to artists, musicians, beatniks, and bohemians, although many also viewed it as a run-down area in need of renewal. Planner and philanthropist Robert Moses spearheaded an ambitious redevelopment effort during the 1950s and 1960s with substantial support from John D. Rockefeller III. Together, they assembled leading architects, planners, and designers to transform the neighborhood into a cultural center unlike any other in the world. What began as the Lincoln Square Renewal Project in the late 1950s ultimately became one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in New York history.

Building a Cultural Landmark

President Dwight D. Eisenhower presided over the groundbreaking ceremony in 1959. Avery Fisher Hall, home of the New York Philharmonic, opened in 1962. The New York City Ballet followed in 1964, and the Metropolitan Opera officially opened its magnificent new home between West 62nd and West 65th Streets on September 16, 1966. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson attended the gala opening, demonstrating the strong national support the project enjoyed from the White House throughout its development.

Why is it called Lincoln Center? The answer remains a subject of debate. Some historians argue it was never intended as a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln, while others maintain that it certainly was. Visitors will notice there are no statues or portraits of Lincoln prominently displayed throughout the complex, adding to the mystery. Whatever the origin of its name, there is no debate about the extraordinary financial commitment that made Lincoln Center possible. John D. Rockefeller III led fundraising efforts that generated more than $184.5 million for the project. He became president of Lincoln Center in 1956 and later served as chairman beginning in 1961.

More Than Opera and Ballet

Construction continued throughout the 1960s, and in 1969, The Juilliard School, founded in 1905, relocated to its new home within Lincoln Center, further cementing the campus as America’s premier destination for performing arts education.

Another beloved New York institution, the Big Apple Circus, began performing alongside Lincoln Center in Damrosch Park in 1981. Although the nonprofit circus experienced significant financial struggles over the years, generous private support allowed it to continue entertaining generations of New Yorkers and visitors alike.

Today, Lincoln Center offers something for everyone. Whether attending an opera, enjoying a New York City Ballet performance, listening to the New York Philharmonic, dining before a show, studying at Juilliard, or simply relaxing beside the famous Revson Fountain, visitors experience one of New York City’s greatest cultural treasures.

Lincoln Center’s Lasting Legacy

Lincoln Center has never been without controversy. Critics have argued that the Lincoln Square Renewal Project displaced long-established neighborhoods in the name of urban renewal and Cold War-era prestige. Others view the project as one of the greatest cultural investments ever made in New York City. Whatever perspective one holds, Lincoln Center remains one of the world’s most celebrated performing arts complexes.

From its earliest days through its ongoing renovations and expansion projects, Lincoln Center continues to serve as both an international tourist attraction and a treasured gathering place for New Yorkers. Like Johnny and Loretta meeting beside the fountain in Moonstruck, countless visitors continue to discover a little romance and a great deal of inspiration in this remarkable corner of Manhattan.