West 63rd Street Renamed Sesame Street in Honor of Series’ 50th Anniversary

On May 1, the beloved children’s television show was commemorated with the naming of a physical Sesame Street.

By Anja Webb May 2, 2019

For New York City residents, Sesame Street is now just a short subway ride, walk, or Uber away! That’s right—there’s a real Sesame Street in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and other stars of the hit series Sesame Street were present for a special ceremony in which the portion of West 63rd Street near Broadway was officially renamed after the show. The location was chosen because it has been Sesame Workshop’s headquarters for the past 50 years.

“From the very beginning New York City has been our hometown as well as the physical and emotional inspiration for the street where all the Sesame Street muppets and human characters live,” says Jeffery Dunn, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit media and education company that owns Sesame Street. “We are grateful to the city of New York for recognizing our block and letting the whole world know that Sesame Street does exist, and we are a big part of what makes New York City the great urban center it is.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled the custom street sign alongside beloved cast members and muppets, important staff from Sesame Workshop, and New York City Council Member Helen Rosenthal, who sponsored the renaming. For more information on Sesame Workshop visit sesameworkshop.org or call 212-595-3456.

Main Image: Mayor De Blasio and Big Bird have a laugh at the 50th anniversary celebration. Image courtesy Zach Hyman.