Click here to see some pictures of Madison Avenue.

When people think about the streets and avenues in Manhattan, they usually think of Broadway and Fifth Avenue. However, Madison Avenue has a share in Fifth Avenue's fashionable shops along with many famous stores. Madison Avenue is full of rich history most people may not know about as they stroll down it today.

In 1836, Madison Avenue was carved between Park and Fifth Avenue and was formerly called Bancker Street, after a family by the same name. It was simply a muddy lane in the early 1800s. It was an area of disease, especially in 1820, when 296 people died of yellow fever in the overcrowded area. Its reputation was so terrible that the Bancker family changed the street's name to Madison Avenue.

The new name came from the fourth president of the United States, James Madison. It wasn't part of the original grid plan that commissioners came up with in 1811. Madison Avenue’s location was an innovation by Samuel B. Ruggles who also helped in creating and naming other thoroughfares in Manhattan. Soon brownstone mansions, like the Villard Houses, began to line Madison Avenue and many of them are still standing today.

In the 1800s, Madison Avenue was overcrowded and most of its residents were poor or middle-class. However, a small percentage of residents were wealthy and owned elegant town houses. When the owners of the town houses fled the area because of the rapid spreading of yellow fever, the homes were turned into boarding houses for doctors, professors, lawyers, and merchants.

In the 1920s, or Roaring Twenties, there was a huge boom in advertising on Madison Avenue, especially on the radio. The radio was a novel and convenient way to learn of new companies and products in all types of industries. There was a huge demand for radio production. There was an overload of new radio stations with many amateurs trying to obtain their own radio station to make money quickly rather than work long and difficult labor intensive jobs.

Today, there are many stores and restaurants on Madison Avenue. Some restaurants that people frequent for a break between shopping are Fred's at Barneys New York and Via Quadronno, where you can find classic Italian cuisine. Extravagant pastry shops include the Lady M Cake Boutique, La Maison du Chocolat, and the Bavarian Pastry Shop. Some famous stores include Nicole Miller, Ralph Lauren, Swarovski, Ann Taylor, Agnes B., and America Hurrah Antiques.

People who venture down this thoroughfare will see the New York Magazine headquarters, the original site of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the Morgan Library, and Madison Square Park. New York Magazine was founded in 1968 and Madison Square Park was first opened in 1847, and the original Ritz-Carlton Hotel opened in 1910. The Morgan Library is overflowing with classic literature from various centuries, so if you enjoy reading, this would be a must see on Madison. Madison Square Park is frequented by native New Yorkers and visitors alike for many purposes such as exercise and leisure. 

Madison Avenue is full of fabulous shops, restaurants, and attractions. It's a perfect way to spend an afternoon stroll by yourself or with friends while eating delicate pastries from La Maison du Chocolat and admiring the extravagant selections in the shop windows. Madison Avenue’s notable history and fascinating present, make it a worthwhile stop on your next visit to Manhattan.