The second edition, fully revised & updated, of my book On the High Line: Exploring America’s Most Original Urban Park, was published in 2014. First issued in 2012, it was the first illustrated guide to the High Line. With a preface and contributions by Rick Darke. Winner of the 2013 IPPY Award presented by the Independent Publishers for Travel Guidebook.
With more than 400 photos and a ten-page, foldout map, it’s a friend-at-your-side guide to everything a visitor sees when strolling through the park: the innovative gardens and their thousands of plants from around the world; the architecture, both old and new; and a neighborhood whose lively history includes the birth of the railroads, the Manhattan Project, S & M clubs, and the legendary Tenth Avenue Cowboy.
“I thought there was not much I did not know about the High Line but I learned so much about the history and the neighborhood. People are going to love it.” — Robert Hammond, co-founder, Friends of the High Line
“Packed with photos expressing exactly how much the High Line Park has contributed to city life…the book captures exactly the delightful design and planting [and] the spirit of each little section of the park…It has the gentle reader reaching for the internet to start looking for plane tickets.” — The Independent (London)
“This book captures the experience of the High Line, setting it in historical and cultural context, and illustrating how a city can meld its industrial heritage into a vibrant new landscape that can be enjoyed by millions. ” — Piet Oudolf, landscape designer, the High Line
“The High Line is a unique elevated celebration of nature and the city and this book shows all aspects of this brilliant project captured in spectacular photographs.” — Lynden B. Miller, public garden designer, The Conservatory Garden (NYC) and author of Parks, Plants and People
“Rails to trails! Dead tech repurposed — beautiful, and insanely popular. FDR Drive, you’re next!” — David Byrne, musician, artist
I give slideshow lectures about the High Line and conduct private walking tours to groups of all ages. If you’re interested, please email me via the contact form.
Art direction and design by Lorraine Ferguson, with principle photography by Scott Mlyn and Juan Valentin. Cartography by Marty Schnure. Published by Thames & Hudson.
I’ve purchased your book and app on the High Line and enjoyed them both, thanks for taking the time to create something so detailed about this great park! I have one question I wasn’t able to answer from the book, however — do the stairs at the 14th street entrance emerge on the High Line south of the 14th St. passage (near the Washington Grasslands) or north of the passage (near the Sundeck)? I can’t quite tell from the maps and photos, so I would appreciate your help!
Susan, the stairs at 14th Street emerge at the southern end of the bog and just 20 feet or so south of the sun deck area and the wooden lounge chairs. They are just at the northern edge of the 14th Street Passage. An excellent source I rely on constantly is Google’s “Street View” of the High Line. If you drop the little yellow man right onto the High Line in Google Maps, you can navigate up and down the full extent of the park and get 360-degree views. It’s a great tool to help answer a question like yours. Thanks for your kind words and glad you are enjoying the book.
Thank you so much for your help — that was exactly what I needed!