The Unusual History of Madison Square Garden

In the heart of Midtown Manhattan stands the world’s most famous arena. Atop the bustling platforms of Penn Station, Madison Square Garden has played host to sporting events, concerts, and performances since the 1960s, but it dates back much further than that.

The history of Madison Square Garden is filled with creation and destruction, ambition and even murder. In a city where it’s rare for a building to rise twice, this venue has been demolished and rebuilt four times in three locations.

The arena is commonly known around the world as simply MSG for short, and locals affectionately refer to it as The Garden. There is much to learn about its storied history and the people who have walked its halls (and its stages). And it’s an interesting place to visit. Read on for more about The Garden’s history and what you can see there today. 

How it all started

The first Madison Square Garden (though that wasn’t its name at the time) was created in 1874 by renowned showman P.T. Barnum in Madison Square. Barnum had taken possession of the New York and Harlem Railroad Station. He converted the open-air building, located between East 23rd and 26th streets and Madison and Fifth avenues, into an oval arena measuring roughly 270 feet long. Barnum called his creation the Great Roman Hippodrome and hosted circuses, sporting events, and a popular bicycle race. Boxing matches, illegal at the time, were presented as “illustrated lectures.”

The venue passed hands several times until it came under the ownership of William Kissam Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt soon sold the drafty, open building to a syndicate with plans to replace it, but first he renamed the venue in 1879: Madison Square Garden. 

In a state of disrepair, it was torn down in Madison Square in 1889. The roof leaked and the balconies were unsafe, so it was time to make way for a new venue — which would open in 1891. 

A dark backstory

The Madison Square Garden syndicate included such luminaries as J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and W.W. Astor. The syndicate wanted a new New York centerpiece designed in the popular Beaux-Arts style of the time and hired famed architect Stanford White to design it.

Like Beaux-Arts architecture? Explore Midtown with us.

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White’s Madison Square Garden — which was erected in Madison Square in the same location as the original — had a distinct old-world Moorish charm while still including modern features. The 32-story tower, capped by a minaret inspired by Spain’s Giralda, boasted an 18-foot nude statue of the goddess Diana. The golden sculpture was rumored to be inspired by Evelyn Nesbit, a chorus girl and model who was the target of White’s unwelcome attentions.

Nesbit would go on to marry Harry Kendall Thaw, heir to a coal fortune. Thaw’s paranoia and jealousy concerning his wife’s past pushed him over the edge. On the evening of June 25, 1906, Thaw encountered White in the rooftop theater of Madison Square Garden. Incensed by the statue above them, Thaw pulled a gun and shot White in the face and chest. White died immediately, and Thaw would eventually stand for his crime in what became known as the “Trial of the Century.” The court acquitted Thaw by reason of temporary insanity.

Despite becoming a New York centerpiece, this Madison Square Garden would never turn a profit. After repeated efforts, the building closed in 1925 and was demolished in 1926 to make way for the New York Life Building.

Madison Square Garden rises again somewhere else

With the loss of Madison Square Garden, the city again found itself in need of a new arena. 

In 1925, over 25 blocks away, the third Madison Square Garden opened at Eighth Avenue between West 49th and 50th streets. In stark contrast to White’s elaborate designs, the focus of this iteration of Madison Square Garden was utility. The arena could seat more than 18,000 fans, though many found their views blocked and the uncirculated air to be stuffy and hazy with cigarette smoke.

Despite these shortcomings, the new arena was a critical part of a rapidly growing city. Political rallies, title fights, and religious revivals would bring thousands of ticket holders nightly. Marilyn Monroe sang her memorable rendition of “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy, Jr., in the arena in 1962.

After nearly 50 years, increasing customer expectations overwhelmed the aging building. It was time for a new, better Madison Square Garden, so the current iteration was torn down in 1968.

Madison Square Garden today

Plans for the demolition of the third Madison Square Garden coincided with the search for a new address. The city had grown exponentially since the 1920s, and space was at an all time premium. Unfortunately, that put some of New York’s most beautiful architecture in the crosshairs. 

Penn Station, a marble Beaux-Arts masterpiece and the massive transit station in the center of the city, was torn down in favor of the new Madison Square Garden. This tragedy would eventually drive the citizens of New York to create the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The Madison Square Garden that we have today is a 20,000-seat arena and a smaller 5,000-seat theater. The city broke ground on the venue in 1964 and opened the arena in 1968. Events ranging from hockey games and basketball games to concerts and even a rodeo have drawn millions of fans over the years.

The future of Madison Square Garden, however, is still unclear. The city’s desire to renovate and restore Penn Station conflicts with the current location. Management is in ongoing talks with the city and neighborhood zoning panels, and plans look good for some, if not all, of the arena’s current facilities.

Only time will tell if the venue’s current location will hold or if Madison Square Garden will eventually have a new home yet again.

Madison Square Park vs. Madison Square Garden

For non-locals, it’s easy to get confused with these two names — they sound quite similar — so let’s take a minute to differentiate them.

Madison Square Park, which used to just be Madison Square, was the home of the original Madison Square Garden. In today’s Manhattan, you’ll find Madison Square Park between East 23rd and 26th Streets and between Madison and Fifth Avenues. 

What is now a green area (and home to a Shake Shack and dog park) was once where New Yorkers gathered for the circus, boxing matches, and more — over 100 years ago! You can see Madison Square Park on our Luxury NYC Bus Tour during your next visit. The park almost doesn’t seem big enough for an entire arena, does it?

Local tip: Stop by Eataly on East 23rd Street for a bite to eat while you’re in the area. You can’t go wrong with any of their food! I love to sit inside and eat a piece of pizza, but sometimes I also just grab a baguette to eat on the go.

Madison Square Garden’s most famous faces

There’s a reason Madison Square Garden has come to be known as the world’s most famous arena. Aside from its storied history, it has also hosted the world’s most famous entertainers across music and sports. The venue has also seen iconic moments in history, including visits from two Popes — Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Francis in 2015. 

Madison Square Garden, which is the home of New York’s NBA team the Knicks and NHL team the Rangers, once saw the incredible “Fight of the Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1971. (Frazier won.) The year before, the Knicks won the NBA Championship in the very same building.

The arena is one of the most highly coveted stages to play for musicians, but no artist has played it more times than Billy Joel. The native New Yorker played his first MSG show in 1978 and played his 150th show in the venue in 2024. The Piano Man currently has a banner hanging from the rafters commemorating this achievement. 

Visitors to MSG will also see a banner for Phish, who played a “Baker’s Dozen” set of shows in 2017. The band played 13 consecutive shows without repeating any songs and earned a banner at the venue. 

In 2022, Harry Styles also earned a banner at the venue when he played 15 consecutive sold-out shows during his residency as part of his Love on Tour. All the music banners hang among the various sports banners from over the years.

Other artists including Taylor Swift, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Elton John, U2, and many more have played on Madison Square Garden’s stage over the years, and many more will continue to pass through the venue’s iconic halls for years to come.

More to explore in New York

That’s a lot for just one arena, right? New York is filled with stories like these — major landmarks as well as hidden gems that you could easily walk by without knowing the secrets they hold.

It’s why we recommend going with an expert. Our guides will show you their hometown like only a local can. Explore the best of Manhattan on our New York in a Day Tour, or dig into the rich, often untold history and culture of a neighborhood on one of our many NYC walking tours.

There’s so much here to see. We can’t wait to show you around!