Walking through the Urban Legacy of New York's Master Builder
Click "Moses Me" to begin your Robert Moses tour
Robert Moses (1888-1981) was the most powerful urban planner in American history, reshaping New York City and State through an unprecedented 44-year career. Known as the "master builder," Moses constructed 13 bridges, 658 playgrounds, 416 miles of parkways and expressways, 2 tunnels, 17 state parks, and countless other projects that fundamentally transformed the metropolitan area. His vision prioritized automobiles over public transit, suburban development over urban neighborhoods, and grand infrastructure over community input. He changed the face of the city and state at great cost to its residents: both contemporaneous citizens who he displaced and future citizens who he doomed to traffic and urban constraints by eliminating possibilities for public transit and cutting the city off from its waterfront. His monumental construction came at tremendous expense to taxpayers (city, state, and federal) as he built the powerful Triborough Authority that operated effectively outside the jurisdiction and financial constraints of any other city department or state agency. Across the tenure of five mayors, six governors, and four presidents, Robert Moses' complex legacy continues to shape how New Yorkers live, work, and move through the city today.
Made by Claire Goldsmith (2025). Thank you to Robert Caro, Will Baine, Sam Hinkie, and Claude Code.