Bethesda Fountain in Central Park in New York City is one of the most photographed fountains in the world. Yet the beautiful terrace and staircase that lead to the fountain are often overlooked. It is on this terrace, Bethesda Terrace, where you’ll find, hidden in plain sight, one this country’s earliest depictions of Halloween.

There are a set of carved pillars by the staircase leading down from Bethesda Terrace to Bethesda Fountain. On one, you’ll see a witch on a broomstick and a jack-o’-lantern.
This carving, like the others, dates to the 1860’s, when Halloween in this country was associated with Irish immigrants.

James Nevius, CityListen tour guide, notes some debate about the roots of this image on Bethesda Terrace. Is this a nod of appreciation to Irish workers, who were instrumental in building Central Park? Or, was it carved as a warning to the Protestant leisure class about the rising tide of Catholic immigration, in response to the abundant anti-Catholic sentiment at the time.

Whether born from innocence or not, there is something quite fascinating about this image tucked into the carvings by this staircase on Bethesda Terrace. There is a long tradition throughout Ireland and Britain of carving vegetables, particularly gourds, into lanterns. Yet historians seem to differ on how this has become an icon of Halloween. Some date this imagery back to historical depictions of Halloween. A documentary on the History Channel claims that “people have been making jack o’lanterns at Halloween for centuries.” Many others note scant historical evidence to support this theory. The phrase jack-o’lantern doesn’t appear as a term until the 1830’s.

It is likely that the seasonal presence of these carved lanterns in North America simply began to blend together with the celebration and imagery of Halloween. And perhaps this little carving on Bethesda Terrace is a missing link in our true understanding of the roots of Halloween.

Spend part of your Halloween this year exploring a bit of hidden history in Central Park. Enjoy the colors of Fall, hear the leaves crunch beneath your feet and go looking for this little seemingly innocent carving with a story to tell.

Happy Halloween!