The stone and iron turtles decorating New York City

“Colonial New Yorkers hunted them in estuaries and salt marshes, putting turtle soup on every restaurant menu. Contemporary city residents know them as the scaly native reptiles who occasionally pop their heads up while feasting in city waterways. Considering the role they’ve played in Gotham’s history and their presence in the modern city, it’s no wonder that images of turtles can be found on building facades, fence posts, and the sculptures in Manhattan parks.You would expect a neighborhood called Turtle Bay to have its fair share of ornamental turtles. You would expect a neighborhood called Turtle Bay to have its fair share of ornamental turtles. ...”

Ephemeral New York