Looking south along 8th Avenue from Columbus Circus (Scan from June 1981)

Now in 2018 it is much changed. Google Earth view...
earth.app.goo.gl/v61V5w

“Located at the intersection of Eighth Avenue, Broadway, Central Park South (West 59th Street), and Central Park West, at the southwest corner of Central Park. The circle is the point from which official highway distances from New York City are measured.”
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Circle