Historic New York Cancer Hospital

Central Park West between 105th and 106th Street

Designed by Charles C. Haight in 1887, the New York Cancer Hospital was the first institution devoted solely to treating the scary and little understood disease. It was at the forefront of cancer treatment in its day and developed innovative patient treatments. The hospital housed wards in the castle-like towers as well as the world’s largest supply of radium and a crematorium in the basement. Known to many as “the castle,” some believe it to be haunted. Today, the building has been refurbished for residential use and is simply referred to as 455 Central Park West.