In the late 19th century , West and East Drives was a popular place for carriage rides , though only 5 percent of the city was able to afford the carriage . One of the main attractions in the park 's early years was the introduction of the " Carriage Parade " , a daily display of horse-drawn carriages that traversed the park . The introduction of the automobile caused the carriage industry to die out by World War I , though the carriage-horse tradition was revived in 1935 . The carriages have become a symbolic institution of the city ; for instance , after the September 11 attacks , in a much-publicized event , mayor Rudy Giuliani went to the stables himself to ask the drivers to go back to work to help return a sense of normality
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Central Park