Lincoln Center wasn’t just built, it transformed New York City’s cultural landscape forever! In the 1950s and 60s, Robert Moses’ “Lincoln Square Renewal Project” cleared the way for what philanthropist John D. Rockefeller III envisioned as the world’s leading performing arts hub. By rallying private donors, Rockefeller raised over half of the $184.5 million needed to bring the dream to life.
But here’s the twist: the name Lincoln Center comes from Lincoln Square, a neighborhood named in 1906 and no one knows for sure if it was meant to honor President Abraham Lincoln!
Between 1962 and 1966, iconic venues opened their doors: Philharmonic Hall (later Avery Fisher Hall, now David Geffen Hall), the New York State Theatre (today the David H. Koch Theater), and the Metropolitan Opera House. Today, Lincoln Center is home to 11 resident arts organizations, from opera and ballet to film and theater.
Some interesting facts: the site displaced more than 7,000 residents from the historic San Juan Hill neighborhood; the original fountain by Philip Johnson was once one of the most advanced in NYC; and the plaza even doubled as a film set for the 1960 classic West Side Story—before the center was even completed!
Over time, Lincoln Center has shed its reputation as an exclusive “cultural Acropolis” and reimagined itself as an open, welcoming space with features like the David Rubenstein Atrium and its lush vertical gardens.
From world-class performances to cinematic cameos, Lincoln Center is more than just a venue, it’s a living, evolving heartbeat of New York culture.
