K Is for the K Line

Central Park in the Spring

 

If you looked at a present day map of the subway system you wouldn't find the K Line. But for three years there was a K Line and it was the gateway to Central Park on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Throughout the history of the subway system lines have been renamed, usually as service is reorganized. The K started out as the AA line in 1932. It was the Eighth Avenue local -- with stops approximately every ten blocks -- and it ran from 168th Street in Upper Manhattan to Chambers Street/Hudson Terminal in Lower Manhattan. In 1985 the AA became the K line and in 1988 the K's brief time was over and it became the C line.   



I chose to feature the subway stop at West 72nd Street for its access to Central Park and because this station is on the same corner as The Dakota. The Dakota is a classic New York apartment building, completed in 1884. Legend says it was named for Dakota, because the area around it was sparsely inhabited. It's a beautiful building with a center courtyard and views of Central Park. It has had many famous residents including Lauren Bacall, Joe Namath and Lillian Gish.

It has become a tourist destination, though, for perhaps its most famous resident, John Lennon. Often groups of tourists are outside the building taking pictures.

The building's façade was completely renovated in 2015.

 I've walked by many times -- it's less than a mile from where I live -- but I've never noticed the iron work before. It surrounds the building on Central Park West.   

The entrance to the Dakota -- and the tragic site where John Lennon was killed.

 

If anyone is keeping track of the A to Z Challenge, I know I am falling behind. I should have completed M yesterday and alas, I am just finishing K. I may be a little out of synch with the rest of my A to Z bloggers, but I'm optimistic about completing all 26 posts in April. Our next post will feature a world famous arts center and one of my favorite stations.

 

I'm joining this post with my Pink Saturday friends. I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit to the K line and I hope you have the opportunity to share the fun at Pink Saturday.

 

As ever, thanks for visiting and have a great week!