Holden Caulfield’s Manhattan

The Catcher in the Rye is one of the most famous works of American literature. Still studied to this day in schools and universities throughout the nation and around the world, JD Salinger's portrayal of teenage angst and alienation continues to strike a chord with readers today, almost 70 years after it was first published.

Most of the action of the novel takes place in Manhattan. After being expelled from boarding school, Holden heads to New York, repulsed by the phoniness of the people around him. Mid-century Manhattan is portrayed in great detail in the book, so the city is almost like another character in the narrative.

New York is a city that is forever changing, and the Manhattan that JD Salinger wrote about is gone forever. However, a lot of the same landmarks still remain. If you're a fan of The Catcher in the Rye, following Holden's progress through the city is a great way to explore.

Holden experiences New York on foot, and that’s the best way to follow his example. Drop your bags at a New York luggage storage shop and set out to see New York through the eyes of one of its most famous literary sons.

Pennsylvania Station

Holden Caulfield’s Manhattan journey begins here. So it's a great place to begin yours too. The station was redeveloped in the 60s, so not much remains of the way it looked during Holden's time. But there are a few remnants here and there that will set the scene for your literary exploration.

Over the course of its existence, Penn Station has been the starting point of countless New York adventures. To this day, people arrive here from around the country and around the world, looking to start a new life in the Big Apple. While not a tourist attraction in the traditional sense, its certainly an atmospheric place to visit.

You can get more of a glimpse of the way Penn Station would have been in the early 1950s on a guided tour.

The American Museum of Natural History

In the book, Holden walks from Central Park to the American Museum of Natural History, remembering his visits there as a child. He reflects on how the exhibits would never move or change, so that when you went back to see them again, the only thing that would have changed would be the visitor themselves.

However, the museum has changed since Holden's day. Many of the exhibits he fondly remembers have been removed, while others have been changed. Holden never steps inside the museum in the book, but there's no reason why you shouldn't.

With its displays of animals and plants from across the country, the American Museum of Natural History is a fun and educational place to visit for all ages. Kids will especially love the dinosaur displays that allow them to get as close as you'd ever want to a Tyrannosaurus rex.

Rockefeller Center Skating Rink

Holden Caulfield's journey through Manhattan takes place in the winter. For true authenticity, you may want to follow his example. If so, you'll be able to visit the outdoor skating rink in front of the Rockefeller Center.

This is where Holden goes on a disastrous date with Sally in the novel. Hopefully, your visit will have a happier conclusion. If you don't have your own skates, you can rent a pair at the rink and enjoy a classic New York winter activity.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Holden goes to the museum better known as the Met to meet his sister Phoebe. In a poignant scene, she asks to come with him on his planned journey west to live isolated from society.

Even if it didn’t feature in the novel, the Met is well worth a visit on any trip to New York. As one of the world's premier art museums, it features artwork from around the world, spanning the course of human history. The Egyptian gallery is home to William the Hippopotamus, the museum's mascot, as well as some mummies that Salinger mentions in The Catcher in the Rye.

Central Park

You can't visit New York without visiting Central Park. But for Salinger fans, the park and its pond have special significance. It's here that Holden wonders about the ducks, and whether they migrate in the winter when the water freezes over. 

The pond is very much still a part of New York, and you'll still see ducks on it just like Holden did. To this day, the New York Parks Board receives multiple inquiries every year, asking the same question Holden did about where the ducks go when the water freezes over.

Of course, Central Park is also one of New York’s best locations for people watching. If the weather allows for it, bring a picnic lunch and spread yourself out on the grass to enjoy this oasis of calm amid the bustle of Manhattan.

Central Park Zoo and Carousel

Holden Caulfield’s Manhattan journey is a vaguely circular wandering that brings him into contact with the same places over and over again. But it's at the Central Park Zoo, where he takes Phoebe to cheer her up, that the novel reaches its emotional conclusion.

Central Park Zoo is small but still in operation, housing snow leopards, grizzly bears, red pandas, sea lions, and other animals. The carousel is still there too. In fact, it's the same carousel that was in the park in Salinger's time, the one that Phoebe rides in the conclusion of the book. It's the perfect place to end your Holden Caulfield inspired trip through Manhattan.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Caulfield

https://catcher-in-the-rye.fandom.com/wiki

https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-salinger-20100425-story.html

https://www.amnh.org/

https://centralparkzoo.com/exhibits

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