Welcome to
Madison Avenue
A Historical Tour of Madison Avenue
The History Of
Madison Avenue
• Madison Avenue was edged in between Park and Fifth
Avenue in 1836
• Originally it was not part of New York Cities “grid
plan” created by the New York Legislature in 1811
• A Yale graduate and New York lawyer named Samuel
B. Ruggles helped set in motion the construction of
this distinguished street.
• After its creation Madison Avenue became a trading
area much like other New York Streets during the
1800’s
History 1800-1900
• Madison Avenue began to attract the attention of
many business developers in the late 1800’s as it had to
be touched
• After the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1902 Advertising
companies across the country flooded the street for a
spot to open their business and be part of New York’s
new adverting boom
• Madison Avenue was beginning to be come know as
the advertising center of the the United States until the
U.S became involved in World War I in 1917
History 1900-1920
• Many ad companies shut down due to the “great war”
• Those left were began working for the government as
providers of pro U.S advertising
• These advertisements covered everything from war and
liberty bonds to enlistment in the armed forces.
• In the 1920’s after WWI Madison Avenue once again
flourished
History 1920-1940
• The post war economy steadily increased and advertising
was once again needed
• During the 1920s to 30s many new ad companies were built
on Madison Avenue
• These new building on Madison Avenue were different
from the brownstone originally used in the 1800’s and
instead were made of steel and glass
• Madison Avenue was once again considered the heart of the
advertising world
• Madison Avenue encountered major construction during
the 1940s due to this popularity in the advertising world.
History 1940s
• In the early 1940’s the A T and T, IBM, Biltmore, and
Ritz Carlton and Roosevelt skyscrapers were created
along with stores such as Abercrombie and Fitch and
Brooks Brothers
• Many other stores and buildings were constructed
during this period despite the great depression and
upcoming World War II
• During WWII Madison Avenue once again helped
produce war time propaganda but did suffer as many
business closings
History 1950-1990
• The post war economy once again boosted all business in
the city including Madison Avenue
• During the 1950’s the term “Mad Men” was coined in
relation to the men who worked on Madison Avenue in the
advertising business
• These “Mad Men” helped form and continue the business
of many of the advertising companies we have today
including Young and Rubicon
• Madison Avenue continued to be the center for advertising
until the invention of the Internet and the home computer
History 1990-Today
• Advertising on the Internet and computer quickly helped
replace many of the businesses on Madison Avenue
• Many advertising companies began to travel across the
nation for cheaper land using the internet for
communication and presentations
• Madison Avenue slowly declined throughout the 2000’s
however still has multiple advertising companies within its
area
• Madison Avenue now has a variety of upscale shops,
restaurants, and high priced apartments
Fun Facts about
Madison Avenue
• The hit AMC show “Mad Men” is based on a 1960s advertising
company located on Madison Avenue
• Madison Avenue is considered on of the most architecturally rich
areas of NYC given its age and variety of different building
designs
• One of the oldest ad companies, Young and Rubicon, built in
1923 still uses the same building on Madison Avenue
• Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue hold some of the most
expensive clothing stores in the city
• Madison and the 60th streets held many famous celebrities
including Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, and Robert DeNiro
Thank You and I’ve
hoped You Enjoyed
Madison Avenue