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As people walk down 42nd Street, they are oblivious to the fascinating past behind the buildings. 42nd Street, once a hub for improper and illegal actions, has been transformed into a place rich with the history and wonders of music, dance and theater. People are able to walk down the streets visiting the many shops, historical theaters, museums, and tourist sites without having to worry about the safety issues that were once a major problem. 42nd Street will always be a major cornerstone of New York .

From the 1960s to the 80s, drug trading and prostitution was a daily public occurrence. In addition, 42nd Street had one of the highest crime rates in New York averaging a murder per day at its lowest point. City offices then decided that the inappropriate aspects of the thoroughfare had to be driven out. Mayor Ed Koch ordered late night raids to clean up the street. Many proposals for improvement had been made and never came to fruition. Plans involving an indoor mall with “educational, entertainment, and exhibits” to four office towers, were halted when the estate families Bradts and Dursts filed lawsuits to block the new buildings. In addition, art communities rallied for the renovation of seven historical theaters. The legal battles raged for ten years but were eventually won by the city, and new plans were finally underway.

In 1990, the new project to renovate 42nd Street was launched, headed by Cora Cahan. The historic theaters were renovated and new businesses opened everywhere. The crime rate began to decline dramatically. One of the first major changes that prompted the progression of other buildings was the renovation of the Victory Theater. The Victory Theater, originally named “Theater Republic”, was built in 1900 by Oscar Hammerstein. During World War II, it was renamed Victory Theater because of the wartime patriotism that swept through the country. Consequently, it became famous for featuring extremely mature content.

In the late 1980s, the Victory Theater underwent a major transformation totaling $11.4 million and evolved into a children's theatre renamed “New Victory Theater.” The Lyric and Apollo Theaters were renovated and renamed after a hotel chain and a car company. In the spring of 1997, the New Amsterdam Theatre was refurbished and reopened by Michael Eisner and now features Disney productions.

The Humanities and Social Studies Research Library is located on 42nd Street and houses over 15 million items. Some of the valuable possessions situated there are Jefferson's handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, Christopher Columbus's letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of his discovery of a new world, ancient Japanese scrolls, priceless medieval manuscripts, and Virginia Woolf's diaries. Dangling chandeliers, historic murals, intricately designed ceilings and marble staircases decorate the interior of the library. Marble lions, named Patience and Fortitude, sit at the entrance of the library near the grand Corinthian columns, guarding the 6 levels of books and treasures.

Another place worth visiting is Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. The museum contains nearly 200 wax figures of famous historical people as well as celebrity idols. The history of the Wax Museum is a very interesting one. In Paris in the 18th century, Madame Tussunds was forced create death masks for the people executed in the French Revolution. In 1835, she opened the London Museum which then branched off into museums located in Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

In addition to the artistic areas along the thoroughfare, 42nd Street is a major center in the NYC subway system with Grand Central Station located on the street. In 1994 it was dubbed the second busiest station. Grand Central boasts massive beams and columns supporting the terminal and the office towers,while steam locomotive mosaics adorn one wall while another wall displays tiles showing a large passageway.

People walk down the sidewalks visiting Madame Tussands Wax Museum and the celebrities that are housed there. Over one hundred thousand people travel through Grand Central Station every day. The many theaters there embrace a history rich in the arts. 42nd Street has truly changed over the past years, evolving from a dangerous street full of criminals to a safe and important thoroughfare.