I have come upon numerous magnificent churches and synagogues in over ninety streets of walking, but I have to admit that I was amazed to encounter this incredible monument, surrounded by gates, dedicated to Islam. The Center began in the 1960s in a small town house on 72nd Street before moving into its current large, imposing edifice. The structure was originally built as a mosque, which included a school, a library, a lecture hall, and a museum.