By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Northern Manhattan residents plan to celebrate one of the area’s prominent historical figures, bird lover and artist John James Audubon at the site of his former Washington Heights estate on Saturday.
Community group Riverside Oval Association will host the ornithologist’s 226th birthday on part of the property, which once extended 24-acres from 153rd to 160th Street and from the Hudson River to what is now Amsterdam Avenue. It was once named Minniesland in reference to his wife’s nickname.
The Association, a neighborhood volunteer group that formed in the 1980s to care for a small park known as the Oval at West 156th Street and Riverside Drive, is active in preserving the Audubon Park Historic District where it is located.
Audubon, who was born on April 26, 1785, is best known for his expansive documentation and illustrations of birds in their natural habitats and is celebrated for his book called "The Birds of North America." Its great success helped him to purchase his estate in 1839. Audubon helped found the conservation group the Audubon Society.
Google celebrated the naturalist's 226th birthday anniversary on Tuesday by dedicating a Google Doodle on its homepage in its honor.
Saturday's party will feature a community performances, including trombone music and singing by Community Board 12 member Jackie Rowe Adams, in addition to a talk about the history of the neighborhood featuring rare historical footage of the neighborhood from when the Riverside viaduct opened in 1928.
The Riverside Oval Association event will be held on Saturday, April 30, at 2 p.m. at the Riverside Oval at West 156th Street and Riverside Drive. In case of rain, the event will be held inside the community room at 800 Riverside Drive, between West 157th and 158th streets.
