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On the evening of December 8th, 1980, John & Yoko were returning home from the studio around 10:30pm, after putting the finishing touches on Yoko's new album. Fifteen minutes later they arrived at the dakota, instead of pulling into the carport in front of the lobby as usual, the limo stopped in front of the building. Yoko got out first, John followed about 10 steps behind her. As John entered the Dakotas archway, Mark David Chapman stepped out behind him, drew a 38 caliber handgun, and fired 5 shots, hitting John 4 times. At 10:50pm, police recieved the emergency call, they called for an ambulance but were told it was 5-7 minutes away, so the police raced John Lennon to Roosevelt hospital. Upon arrival John had no blood pressure, no pulse, no signs of live, and 3 gunshots wounds in the left upper chest. Despite the exhaustive efforts of the trauma team, John Winston Lennon was pronounced dead at 11:07pm at the age of 40. Four days later on Dec 14, 1980, at 2pm est millions of people around the world joined at Yokos request to observe 10 minutes of silence in honor of the life, music, & memory of John Lennon. On what would have been Johns 45th birthday, October 9th, 1985, the city he loved dedicated a portion of Central park in his memory. Today Strawberry Fields remains a place where fans, friends and family go to reflect on what he & what his music meant to them. |
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The Dakota is where John Lennon lived in the final years of his life with wife Yoko Ono and son Sean. It is located at 1 West 72nd Street, on Central Park West. | ||||||||
| Here are two different camera angles of the front entryway. The first being from the street and the second from inside the building. |
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The Strawberry Fields sign greeting you as you walk into this particular area of Central Park. The entrance for Strawberry Fields is at West 72nd Street and Central Park West. | ||||||||
| A beautiful landscape shot of Strawberry Fields. There are many breathtaking areas such as this one located throughout the memorial site. |
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Yes this is me, pardon the popsicle. This was a rather hot day in August of 1995! This is the main part of Strawberry Fields, and the memorial to John Lennon. People commonly place flowers, strawberries, apples and other various items to show their love and respect for John. |
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This is a plaque at the back of the park that shows the countries who endorsed the park, and thanks Yoko Ono for donating the funds necessary to transform that part of the park into Strawberry Fields. The dedication text reads as follows: "Imagine all the people living life in peace...John Lennon" "The restoration of this part of Central Park as a Garden of Peace, endorsed by the above nations, was made possible through the generosity of Yoko Ono Lennon." "Dedicated by Mayor Edward I. Koch and Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern, October 9, 1985" |
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