From 1851-1929 collisions between street-level freight trains and other traffic along 10th Avenue down Manhattan's West side occurred so frequently, the route became known as Death Avenue. At one point "West Side "Cowboys were hired to ride horses and wave red flags in front of trains as a warning to pedestrians and motorists. It didn't work. So in 1929, the city decided to raise the tracks. The High Line was born.

With changing modes of transportation, the High Line became obsolete. and in 1980 the last train made its final journey. The tracks remained abandoned until 2009 when the High Line Park opened. From the rusted remains of former days -- slated to end up in a landfill -- vintage artifacts were reused to create a place to walk through natural plantings, see spectacular views, and take a break from crowds and concrete. Plus, all those new plantings help to soak up some of that city CO2. For more information visit: The High Line.