An Angel with Open Wings

The iconic angel atop Bethesda Fountain is one of the most recognizable sights in Central Park. Featured in countless films, television shows, and photographs, she has become a symbol of the park itself, quietly watching over generations of New Yorkers and visitors alike.

Yet few people realize that the sculpture was designed by Emma Stebbins, the first woman to receive a public art commission from the City of New York. Long before women could vote, her work became part of the city’s landscape, standing at the heart of Central Park with wings outstretched and a branch of peace in her hand.

More than 150 years later, the Angel of the Waters remains one of New York’s most beloved landmarks—and a reminder that remarkable stories often hide in plain sight.