Designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh (who also created the Plaza Hotel and the Waldorf Astoria) and built in 1884, the Dakota has been listed as a National Historic Monument since 1976. Roberta Flack, Judy Garland, Lauren Bacall, and Leonard Bernstein are some of the celebrities who have called the Dakota home over the years—and musician Yoko Ono is still a resident today. Recognizable for its soaring gables and ornamented exterior, the Dakota remains one of the most desirable luxury apartment buildings in the city, despite—or perhaps because of—its spooky lore.
Numerous Upper West Side tours feature the Dakota Apartments, including neighborhood walking jaunts, architecture-themed excursions, and filming location itineraries.