The Blockhouse

"Built for the War of 1812, but never used in battle. Most of Central Park was conceived by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted. Even parts that are meant to look natural, like the Ramble and the North Woods, were intentionally designed that way. But there are a few things that were in the Park boundaries that Vaux and Olmsted decided to keep and incorporate into their plans. The Blockhouse is one of them. The Blockhouse was completed in 1814, literally two days before the Treaty of Ghent was signed, effectively ending the War it was built to defend against. So it was never used, and it sat vacant for 40 years until Central Park was formed. Vaux and Olmsted called it a "picturesque ruin" and wanted to cover it in ivy. They promoted it as a destination in the North Woods."