Visual Guided Tours of New York City

The Straus family moved to the U.S. in 1854 and settled in Georgia. After the Civil War they relocated to New York where Lazaras Straus began L. Straus & Sons with sons Isidor (b. Bavaria, 1845) and Nathan. By 1888 the brothers had advanced from operating a crockery concession at R.H. Macy & Co. to owning the company. In 1902, they opened the world's largest department store, Macy's at Herald Square (34th Street). They also became partners in Abraham & Straus in 1893 (in operation until 1995 when Federated Department Stores discontinued the name).

In 1871, Isidor married Ida Blun, who was from Worms, Germany. In addition to raising their six children, Ida joined her husband as a philanthropist with a special concern for health, education, and other public services.

The Strauses were aboard the Titanic when it sank April 15, 1912. Ida decided to remain aboard with her husband rather than saving herself by boarding a lifeboat with the women and children. In 1912 the City amed this park after the Strauses who had lived in a frame house at 27-47 Broadway, near 105th.

Information from a plaque in the park provided by the City; Michael Bloomberg, Mayor.