Inside the 1960s Hallway Preserved in Time at Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden has been an entertainment institution in New York City since 1879. Since that time, four separate buildings have held the title, including one designed by famous architect Stanford White with a garden rooftop theater (where he eventually met his demise). The Madison Square Garden we know today was built in 1968 on the site of the original Penn Station.

Over the years, the venue has undergone renovations totaling over $1 billion. Newer features include a bridge level that runs high above the event floor, a remodeled 7th Avenue entrance, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, and other upgrades. Among these modern improvements, a small part The Garden remains as it was in 1968.

The 1968 North and South Corridors are a subtle nod to the past, hidden in plain sight, serving as time capsules within the modernized venue. The corridors appear as they would have looked when the “new Madison Square Garden" opened back in 1968. The concrete block walls, floors and round overhead lighting are all the same as they were more than fifty years ago.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Madison Square Garden
🗓️ Saturday, August 22nd at 12 pm
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See rarely-accessed spaces, from VIP luxury suites to locker rooms, inside "the world's most famous arena®"!

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A unique feature of the hallway is the selection of vintage advertisements that line the walls. The ads were pulled from the Garden archives, and they give a glimpse into the venue’s past. Walking along the hallway you will see posters for Garden events such as a boxing match between Emile Griffith and Nino Benvenuti, an ad for Bethlehem Steel which was used in the construction of The Garden, an ad for Budweiser, and more.

The Garden actually has a few spots where it pays homage to its past. Another place where you will find a nod 1968 is in The Blue Seats section in the upper balcony of the arena, behind the Rangers goal. The light blue color of the seats in this section is the color all of the seats were in 1968.

Visitors to The Garden can also relive historic events by checking out the Defining Moments displays in the concourse, which highlight such events as the Pope’s visit in 2015. Also, ringing the ceiling around the concourse is Garden 366, a retrospective look at some of the most momentous events of The Garden’s 140 year history, one moment for every day of the calendar year.

The 1968 Corridors are used for entry and exit to events, so the next time you are attending a concert or game, be sure to look around.

Uncover more secrets of the Garden on an upcoming Madison Square Garden Tour experience! This behind-the-scenes tour takes you to areas usually inaccessible to the public. Depending on the events taking place each day, visitors may see areas like the Knicks and Rangers locker rooms, a backstage dressing room, A VIP Suite, or even put their feet on The Garden floor. Book your spot with Untapped New York here for our visit on August 22nd!