Things to do nearThe Mall and Literary Walk
The Mall and Literary Walk in Central Park, New York, is a grand tree-lined promenade celebrated for its canopy of American elms, historic statues, and vibrant street life.
The Mall and Literary Walk occupies the southern section of Central Park's main promenade, a formal axis that landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux incorporated into their original 1858 Greensward Plan. It remains one of the few intentionally straight pathways in a park otherwise defined by curving, naturalistic design, a deliberate nod to the grand European park traditions Olmsted and Vaux were both drawing from and reinterpreting. The four rows of American elms that line the path form an almost cathedral-like tunnel overhead, their interlocking branches creating dense, shifting shade across the wide flagstone surface below.
These trees are considered among the finest surviving stands of American elms in the country, a species that was devastated across much of North America by Dutch elm disease during the twentieth century. Central Park's careful stewardship, led in modern decades by the Central Park Conservancy, has kept this population healthy through active monitoring and selective planting.
The southern portion of the promenade, formally designated the Literary Walk, features bronze statues of writers and poets, with Shakespeare, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Fitz-Greene Halleck represented among them. Street performers, portrait artists, and musicians gather along the path on weekends, contributing to an atmosphere that feels both timeless and distinctly alive. The Mall connects naturally to the Bethesda Terrace at its northern end, giving visitors a satisfying progression from formal promenade to open lakeside panorama.
For anyone seeking to understand Central Park as a designed landscape rather than simply a green escape, The Mall and Literary Walk is the place to begin.
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Chance of rainTips for visiting The Mall and Literary Walk
Visit on a weekday morning to experience the elm canopy at its quietest, when the light filters through the leaves and foot traffic is light.
Look closely at the bronze statues lining the southern end, which include likenesses of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Shakespeare, making this one of the few public spaces in the city dedicated to literary figures.
Bring a book and claim one of the wooden benches mid-promenade, where shade is deepest and the ambient sounds of nearby musicians carry naturally.
Arrive in late October or early November to catch the elm foliage at peak color, when the canopy turns a warm gold against the autumn sky.
Continue north from The Mall and Literary Walk toward the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain for a natural extension of the walk that opens onto the lake and broader park landscape.
Top tours & experiences near The Mall and Literary Walk
Metropolitan Museum & Central Park 5.5-Hour Guided Tour
Explore The Met’s permanent collection and Central Park with an expert guide
Explore Central Park on a 40-Minute Carriage Ride
40-minute horse-drawn carriage ride past Central Park landmarks
Central Park Semi-Private Guided Walking Tour
Walk Central Park’s paths, bridges, and landmarks with an expert guide
Central Park Architecture Walking Tour
See Central Park’s design through its bridges, landmarks, and landscapes
Central Park 2-Hour Pedicab Tour
See more of Central Park with seven photo stops and live guide commentary
30-Minute Central Park Pedicab Tour
See Central Park highlights with a licensed guide and no long walks
Central Park Private Pedicab Tour With Photo Stops
See Central Park’s landmarks with extended stops for photos
Central Park Dutch E-Bike Rental
Explore Central Park at your own pace on a Dutch electric bike
Dutch Bike Rental in Central Park
Pedal through Central Park at your own pace on a Dutch city bike
Ride a Horse-Drawn Carriage Through Central Park
1-hour VIP carriage ride with photo stops at Bethesda Fountain and Cherry Hill
50-Minute Central Park Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
Ride a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park with photo stops and key landmarks
2-Hour Central Park Pedicab Guided Tour
Ride a pedicab through Central Park’s south and mid loops with optional photo stops
Explore Central Park on a 3-Hour Pedicab Tour
Ride a private pedicab through all of Central Park with 9–10 optional stops
3-Hour Central Park Walking Tour in New York City
Walk Central Park’s southern highlights with a guide
Ride a Horse-Drawn Carriage Through Central Park
Take an official VIP horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park
Explore Central Park on a 1-Hour Pedicab Tour
Ride a pedicab through Central Park with optional stops from 58th to 72nd Street
Central Park Guided Walking Tour
Walk Central Park’s hidden corners with a local guide in 90 minutes
Explore Central Park on a 3-Hour Pedicab Tour
Ride a pedicab through the entire Central Park in 3 hours
1-Hour Central Park Pedicab Tour
Ride a private pedicab through Central Park with optional photo stops
Guided Selfie Photo Tour of Central Park
Frame Central Park landmarks with a licensed guide and photographer
Central Park Hidden Gems Walking Tour
Walk Central Park's landmarks, film locations, and hidden corners
Central Park 3-Hour Guided Pedicab Tour
See Central Park from south to north with stories and photo stops
Central Park Movie Locations Pedicab Tour
See Central Park film sites and celebrity landmarks by pedicab
Private 3-Hour Central Park Guided Tour
Follow Central Park's paths, landmarks, and layered history on foot
2-Hour Guided Bike Tour of Central Park
Pedal past Central Park landmarks with an English-speaking guide
Central Park 2-Hour Guided Pedicab Tour
See Central Park landmarks with photo stops and a guide-led pedicab ride
Private Central Park Guided Walking Tour
Explore Central Park’s landmarks and lesser-known history with a private guide
Metropolitan Museum & Central Park Private Tour
Private guide through the Met's masterpieces and Central Park