Aug 6th, 2026 - A metal bolt planted somewhere in Central Park in 1808 has drawn a wave of curiosity this month. Surveyor John Randel Jr. placed it during his three-year effort to lay out nearly 1,000 proposed intersections for Manhattan's street grid. At 218 years old, it's considered the only authentic bolt from that era still sitting in the park.
West Side Rag broke the story after a reader stumbled on the bolt and shared a photo. They have kept its exact location under wraps, citing concern from parks officials about theft or damage.
Gothamist writer James Ramsay decided to try finding it without the internet's help. He and a colleague spent two hours combing the park's west side, but the bolt remains unfound, at least by Gothamist's team, and its precise spot is still being kept quiet.
Read more from the Gothamist article.