Places
Within the Alienist books, many well-known places around New York are used as settings for the stories. Here you are able to find some detail on the places visited within the books.
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Maps | Houses & Offices | Other Locations
Other Locations
American Museum of Natural History
Within both The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness, Dr Kreizler and his colleagues visit the museum to get assistance in their cases from his good friend, Franz Boas, who was the assistant Curator of Ethnology and Somatology during the time the books are set.1 The museum was founded in 1869 and from the mid-1870s was located in Manhattan Square.2 It houses large anthropological collections of Asian, African, and American origin, as well as other famous natural history displays.2
Ballston Spa Court House
In The Angel of Darkness, the entire investigative team spend a considerable period of time at Ballston Spa where one of John Moore's friends, Rupert Picton, helps them take Libby Hatch to court. Due to this, both the court room of the Ballston Spa Court House and Rupert Picton's office within the building are major settings within the book. The exterior of this new (i.e., less than 10 year old in 1897) court house is described as being "run-of-the-mill". It has thick stone walls with a square tower positioned over one of its corners. Stevie Taggert also notes that it looks appropriate as a jail with strong bars across the basement cell windows. The interior of the building was more favourably described.
The Angel of Darkness, 350:
The walls in the main hall were constructed in alternating types and colors of stone, set in pleasing patterns, and the double-height windows were framed in deep oak what was kept richly polished, as were the big mahogany doors to the main courtroom, located at the far end, and the smaller hearing room on the left. Sunlight was thrown across the marble floor from a few different directions, and the marble stairs what led up to the offices had a beautiful semicircular window at their first landing, along with a series of expertly made iron lighting fixtures running along the banisters.
The main court room is also described as being handsome, although with "less frills" than most New York City court rooms. The judge's bench, pews in the gallery, and pews on the main floor are made out of fruitwood while the doors throughout the building are made of oak.
Mr Picton's office, located on the second floor down a hall opposite the gallery doorway, consists of two rooms. One is smaller and is intended for a secretary, although Picton works without one, while the other is larger and looks out over the railroad tracks and train station. The latter contains a rolltop desk, leather chairs, and is full of law books that are strewn around in a disorganised manner.
Battery Park
One of the murder victims in The Alienist is found at Castle Garden, Battery Park. The team perform a post-mortem on the boy at the location and also investigate possible routes that the killer may have used to escape. Historically, Castle Garden, then named Castle Clinton, was constructed 91m (300ft) offshore from Battery Park in 1807 as an artillery defence post.3 Over time, landfill eventually incorporated it into the mainland and in 1824 it was renamed Castle Garden after being turned into an enclosed fort.3 In 1855, it became the New York City immigration centre and processed approximately 7.5 million immigrants.3 After Ellis Island took over this role in 1892, Castle Garden lay dormant before it was remodelled in 1896 to become the New York Aquarium. This later moved to Coney Island and the site then became a monument.3
Croton Reservoir
The Croton Reservoir is a setting for major events within The Alienist. It was located on 5th Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets, and was built in the early 1840s when running water was introduced to New York City.4 A large promenade was incorporated atop its walls to take advantage of the spectacular views of Long Island, the hills of Westchester, and the Palisades that could be seen from the structure.4 Due to this, the reservoir became a popular attraction for gatherings and walks, both for tourists and city residents.4 It was demolished in the early 20th century and the main branch of the New York Public Library was built in its place.4
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka The Met) is a primary setting for a kidnapping within The Angel of Darkness. It opened in 18725 and is located on the eastern edge of Central Park. It moved to this site in 1880.3 It features collections of art by European and American masters as well as other art from all around the world including Egypt, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.3 The museum also contains classical antiquity galleries and a collection of antique weapons and armor.3
Metropolitan Opera House
The Metropolitan Opera House was first opened in 1883 and was located between 39th and 40th Street on Broadway.6 Within the books, Dr Kreizler is quite musically inclined and owns a box on the left-hand side of the second tier within the House. As such, this location is featured quite regularly as a setting for parts of the story within The Alienist. Some of the operas attended within the books include Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Verdi's Rigoletto, and Mozart's Don Giovanni. The image that appers on the left was taken in 1937 and gives a good indication of what the "diamond horseshoe" (the boxes) looked like.
Police Headquarters (300 Mulberry Street)
Within the books, the Detective Sergeants Marcus Isaacson and Lucius Isaacson are based at 300 Mulberry Street. Additionally, in The Alienist, Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt and Police secretary Sara Howard are also based at Police Headquarters. As a result, this is an important location within both books. Historically, 300 Mulberry Street was a large structure that extended back to Mott Street.7 It was at this location that all Police clerical work was conducted.7 The offices of the Superintendent, First Inspection District, Detective Department, Property Clerk, Telegraph Bureau, and Election Bureau were also located at this site.7 In addition, the building housed the Third Precinct Headquarters and Matron Webb's rooms for lost children.7
Restaurants & Taverns
Food played a large role of the books as the characters spent a good deal of time in many famous restaurants around New York City discussing their investigations. The favourite restaurant of the characters, it seems, is Delmonico's. At Del's, the characters eat in both the private rooms (specifically, the blue room) and the public dining room at different times in the books. Additional resturants which are mentioned or eaten at include: the Cafacutee Lafayette, Lüchow's (seen in the image to the right), Cafacutee Boulevard, and the Hotel Gonfarone. The characters are also known to visit their favourite taverns during the investigations. These include Brübacher's Wine Garden and Pete's Tavern. All of these restaurants and taverns were located in Manhattan only a short distance from 808 Broadway. The types of food and drinks consumed by each of the characters at these resturants are listed on the food page.
Williamsburg Bridge
In The Alienist, John Moore views the body of a murder victim atop the western anchor of the Williamsburg Bridge. Construction of this anchorage can be seen in the photo to the right. Historically, this suspension bridge began construction in 1896, the year that The Alienist was set. It was opened to pedestrians, bicycles, and carriages in December of 1903, connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan to the Williamsburg neighbourhood of Brooklyn.8 It cost a total of $24.2 million to construct, three times the original estimate.8
References
1. Columbia University Department of Anthropology, "History: Franz Boas" 15 Mar. 2008. Link.
2. Wikipedia, "American Museum of Natural History" 10 Mar. 2008. Link.
3. Berman, Eleanor. Dorling Kindersley Travel Guides: New York. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2000.
4. Forgotten NY Street Scenes, "There's No Stoppin' the Croton from Hoppin'" 2002. Link.
5. Wikipedia, "Metropolitan Museum of Art" 19 Mar. 2008. Link.
6. The Metropolitan Opera, "An Introduction to the Metropolitan Opera" Unknown Date. Link.
7. Costello, Augustine. Our Police Protectors, History of the New York Police. Published by Author for benefit of Police Pension Fund, 1885. Link.
8. Eastern Roads, "Williamsburg Bridge Historic Overview" 3 Mar. 2008. Link.