The traffic circle is named for the jazz musician Duke Ellington.

[1] In 1997, the Duke Ellington Memorial by sculptor Robert Graham was erected in the middle of the shallow amphitheater composing the circle.

[2] Though the circle diverts the flow of 110th Street, Fifth Avenue maintains a direct route through the intersection.

The nearest area of Central Park to the circle is the Harlem Meer.

The M1, M2, M3 and M4 New York City Bus routes serve the vicinity of the circle.