If you stand at the intersection of 47th and Broadway New York, you aren't just at a street corner. Honestly, you’re standing in the middle of a perpetual motion machine. Most tourists think of Times Square as one big, neon-soaked blur, but locals and theater geeks know that 47th Street is where the gravity of the neighborhood actually shifts. It’s the northern anchor of the "Great White Way," and it holds more history per square inch than almost any other patch of pavement in Manhattan.
It's loud. It’s crowded. It’s basically the lobby of the world.
But there is a specific magic here that you don't get down on 42nd Street. While the southern end of Times Square feels like a giant outdoor shopping mall, 47th and Broadway is where the art happens. It’s where people wait for hours to snag a half-price ticket to a musical and where a giant bronze priest keeps watch over a sea of selfie sticks.
The Red Steps and the TKTS Ritual
You can't talk about 47th and Broadway New York without mentioning the "Red Steps." Formally known as the TKTS Discount Booth, this glowing ruby-red grandstand has become a landmark in its own right.
Since 1973, the Theatre Development Fund (TDF) has used this spot to sell off-price Broadway tickets. The current design, which opened in 2008, features 27 structural glass steps that can hold up to 1,500 people at a time. It’s the best free seat in the city. You sit there, elevated above the taxis and the costumed Elmos, and you just watch the world vibrate.
The irony? Most people sitting on the steps have no idea they are sitting on top of a high-tech ticket office.
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The Statues in the Square
The triangular patch of land here is called Father Duffy Square. It’s named after Francis P. Duffy, a Canadian-born military chaplain who served the "Fighting 69th" Infantry during World War I. He was the most highly decorated cleric in U.S. Army history, and after the war, he became the pastor of Holy Cross Church just a few blocks away. His statue stands tall, looking south, backed by a massive Celtic cross.
Then there’s George M. Cohan.
"Give my regards to Broadway," he wrote. His statue stands at the southern tip of the triangle. He’s the only person in the world of theater to have a statue in the middle of Times Square, and he deserves it. Without Cohan, the American musical as we know it—fast-paced, patriotic, and unashamedly commercial—might not exist.
The Palace Theatre: A Literal Lift-Off
Right on the corner of 47th and Broadway New York, something scientifically insane recently happened. The Palace Theatre, one of the most storied venues in the world, was literally lifted 30 feet into the air.
Built in 1913 by Martin Beck, the Palace was the ultimate goal for every vaudeville performer. If you "played the Palace," you had made it. Everyone from Judy Garland to Liza Minnelli has graced that stage. But because New York real estate is a game of Tetris, developers needed more retail space at street level.
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So, they used hydraulic jacks to slowly hoist the 1,650-seat, landmarked interior up three stories.
The theater is now part of the TSX Broadway project, a massive $2.5 billion redevelopment. It’s a weird mix of 100-year-old plaster and 21st-century LED screens. This kind of architectural gymnastics is exactly why this corner never stays the same for long.
From Horse Stables to Neon Lights
It's hard to imagine, but back in the 1800s, this area was called Longacre Square. It wasn't full of tourists; it was full of horse manure and carriage shops. It was New York’s version of a gritty industrial park for transportation.
Everything changed in 1904.
That’s when the New York Times moved its headquarters to the brand-new Times Tower on 42nd Street. The city renamed the area Times Square, and the northern end—our corner at 47th—slowly transformed into the theater hub.
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During the Great Depression, things got bleak. The "legitimate" theaters started turning into movie houses or, later, peep shows. By the 1970s and 80s, 47th and Broadway New York was a very different place. It was the epicenter of a much rougher, seedier Manhattan. The "Disneyfication" of the 90s cleaned it up, for better or worse, turning it into the high-gloss pedestrian plaza you see today.
Survival Tips for the 47th Street Intersection
If you’re planning to visit or just passing through, you need a strategy. This isn't a "stroll and look at the clouds" kind of place.
- Avoid the "Costumed Characters": They will try to take a photo with you and then demand $20. Unless you really want a blurry photo with a sweaty Mickey Mouse, just keep walking.
- The TKTS Line Hack: If you want tickets but don't want to stand in the main line at 47th and Broadway New York, check the TDF app first. Or, better yet, go to the TKTS booth at Lincoln Center where the lines are usually shorter.
- Best Photo Op: Don't take photos from the ground. Walk to the very top of the Red Steps. You get the perspective of the Seventh Avenue and Broadway "bow tie" intersection that makes for the classic NYC shot.
- The Midnight Moment: Every night from 11:57 PM to midnight, the digital billboards sync up for a massive art display called the "Midnight Moment." It’s the world's largest and longest-running digital art exhibition.
Real Expert Insights
Urban planners often point to this specific corner as a masterclass in pedestrianization. When the city closed Broadway to cars in the late 2000s, critics thought it would cause gridlock. Instead, it created one of the most successful public spaces in the country. The "Red Steps" alone generate a massive amount of foot traffic that supports the entire Broadway ecosystem.
Whether you're there for a show at the Palace or just to soak in the lights, this corner is the pulse of the city. It’s loud, it’s expensive, and it’s unapologetically New York.
To get the most out of your visit, head to the TKTS booth around 3:00 PM for evening show discounts, then walk one block west to Restaurant Row for a pre-theater dinner before the crowds peak at 6:00 PM.