Welcome to Madison Avenue

A Historical Tour of Madison Avenue

The History Of Madison Avenue

• Madison Avenue was edged in between Park and Fifth Avenue in 1836

• Originally it was not part of New York Cities “grid plan” created by the New York Legislature in 1811

• A Yale graduate and New York lawyer named Samuel B. Ruggles helped set in motion the construction of this distinguished street.

• After its creation Madison Avenue became a trading area much like other New York Streets during the 1800’s

History 1800-1900

• Madison Avenue began to attract the attention of many business developers in the late 1800’s as it had to be touched

• After the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1902 Advertising companies across the country flooded the street for a spot to open their business and be part of New York’s new adverting boom

• Madison Avenue was beginning to be come know as the advertising center of the the United States until the U.S became involved in World War I in 1917

History 1900-1920

• Many ad companies shut down due to the “great war”

• Those left were began working for the government as providers of pro U.S advertising

• These advertisements covered everything from war and liberty bonds to enlistment in the armed forces.

• In the 1920’s after WWI Madison Avenue once again flourished

History 1920-1940

• The post war economy steadily increased and advertising was once again needed

• During the 1920s to 30s many new ad companies were built on Madison Avenue

• These new building on Madison Avenue were different from the brownstone originally used in the 1800’s and instead were made of steel and glass

• Madison Avenue was once again considered the heart of the advertising world

• Madison Avenue encountered major construction during the 1940s due to this popularity in the advertising world.

History 1940s

• In the early 1940’s the A T and T, IBM, Biltmore, and Ritz Carlton and Roosevelt skyscrapers were created along with stores such as Abercrombie and Fitch and Brooks Brothers

• Many other stores and buildings were constructed during this period despite the great depression and upcoming World War II

• During WWII Madison Avenue once again helped produce war time propaganda but did suffer as many business closings

History 1950-1990

• The post war economy once again boosted all business in the city including Madison Avenue

• During the 1950’s the term “Mad Men” was coined in relation to the men who worked on Madison Avenue in the advertising business

• These “Mad Men” helped form and continue the business of many of the advertising companies we have today including Young and Rubicon

• Madison Avenue continued to be the center for advertising until the invention of the Internet and the home computer

History 1990-Today

• Advertising on the Internet and computer quickly helped replace many of the businesses on Madison Avenue

• Many advertising companies began to travel across the nation for cheaper land using the internet for communication and presentations

• Madison Avenue slowly declined throughout the 2000’s however still has multiple advertising companies within its area

• Madison Avenue now has a variety of upscale shops, restaurants, and high priced apartments

Fun Facts about Madison Avenue

• The hit AMC show “Mad Men” is based on a 1960s advertising company located on Madison Avenue

• Madison Avenue is considered on of the most architecturally rich areas of NYC given its age and variety of different building designs

• One of the oldest ad companies, Young and Rubicon, built in 1923 still uses the same building on Madison Avenue

• Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue hold some of the most expensive clothing stores in the city

• Madison and the 60th streets held many famous celebrities including Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, and Robert DeNiro

Thank You and I’ve hoped You Enjoyed

Madison Avenue