Fifth Avenue, famous north-south street of the borough of Manhattan, New York City. It begins at Washington Square and ends at the Harlem River. Between 34th and 59th streets, Fifth Ave. is lined with fashionable department stores and specialty shops. Fronting the avenue are the Empire State Building, the New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Guggenheim Museum. From 59th to 110th streets it borders Central Park; on its east side are tall apartment houses (interspersed with formerly private homes), built on the site of the elegant mansions of 50 years ago. On the west side of the avenue between 80th and 84th streets is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. North of the park Fifth Ave. runs through Marcus Garvey Park and Harlem.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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