Riverside Church in Manhattan isn’t just any church - it’s a true NYC icon built in the 1920s by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. with Reverend Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick as its first senior minister.
Standing tall at 392 feet, Riverside is the tallest church in the United States (and the 24th tallest in the world). Its bell tower houses something extraordinary: the world’s heaviest tuned bell, a 20-ton bronze giant dedicated to Rockefeller’s mother, plus a carillon of 74 bells once the largest in the world.
But here’s where it gets fun, did you know the church’s basement once had four bowling alleys where Columbia University students bowled back in the 1930s? And while the bell tower features four elevators (making it the tallest church tower with elevators in the world), it’s also been home to peregrine falcons nesting high above the city for decades.
Its design is straight out of Europe, inspired by the Cathedral of Chartres and Laon Cathedral in France, and even includes stained glass that dates back to the 16th century from Bruges, Belgium.
Over the years, Riverside has become a symbol of social justice, welcoming people from more than 40 ethnic groups, and even dedicating part of its campus to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
From Gothic inspiration to modern steel structure, from sacred bells to bowling alleys, Riverside Church is proof that history, architecture, and community spirit can all come together in one breathtaking landmark.
Next time you’re near Morningside Heights, look up and you might just spot the towering beauty of Riverside Church. Whether you love history, architecture, or hidden NYC stories, this landmark has it all.
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