The Forgotten Fifth Avenue South of Washington Square Park
If New York City streets had their own royal court, Broadway would be the old king and Fifth Avenue would be its fabulous queen. Just saying Fifth Avenue evokes glamour, … Continued
Washington Square United Methodist Church: Where Identity and Inclusion Collided
The intersection of religion and identity can be potent, or even combustible, mix. For one Greenwich Village church and its congregation, in the late 1970s they came to a head … Continued
Washington Square Park, Once the Land of the Lenape
Today we’re highlighting the rich Indigenous history of our neighborhood. This is crucial both to understand and respect the full history of the land we live on, and to recognize … Continued
If the Washington Square Hotel Could Talk (or Write, or Sing)
This is one in a series of posts marking the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Greenwich Village Historic District. Click here to check out our year-long activities and … Continued
The Bubble Man in Washington Square Park
This is one in a series of posts marking the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Greenwich Village Historic District. Click here to check out our year-long activities and … Continued
How Edith Wharton and Henry James Struck Up A Friendship Around Washington Square
On October 26, 1900, two great writers with ties to the Village began a correspondence that would spark a lifelong friendship…
July 9, 1819: Slavery, Gentrification, and the Last Execution in Washington Square
This is a re-posting of a piece written by GVSHP’s Matthew Morowitz. Sunday, July 9th marked the 198th anniversary of the last execution that took place in Washington Square – … Continued
Edith Wharton vs. Washington Square
This Saturday and Sunday, expert tour guide Joyce Gold will lead tours celebrating the radical, notorious women of Washington Square. The square and its environs have a long been home … Continued
What A Difference GVSHP Makes! Preserving Vanderbilt Hall and Washington Square
This series shines a light on the important things we’re achieving together in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. Each month, we’ll be exploring a new site or topic … Continued
From Parking Lot to Car Free Washington Square Park
Today is Earth Day, first celebrated in NYC in 1970, and you may notice some of the streets around the city harkening to a quieter era. Legislation passed in the City … Continued
On this Day: Washington Square Village Found Eligible for State and National Registers of Historic Places
On this date in 2011, the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), presented a “Resource Evaluation” that agreed with the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s earlier finding that the complex known … Continued
99 Years Ago: The Washington Square Arch Conspiracy, January 23, 1917
The Washington Square Arch in Washington Square Park is in some ways the heart of the Village. The white marble structure was designed by renowned architect Stanford White and built … Continued
The Tree of Heaven in Washington Square
I recently read the novella Washington Square for the first time, eager to see how this 1880 work by Henry James might paint the Square of olden days. Although the … Continued
Slavery, Gentrification, and the Last Execution in Washington Square
On July 9th, 1819, Rose Butler was executed in the Potter’s Field located in what is now Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. Rose, a nineteen year old black female … Continued
Looking Up: The Washington Square Arch
This post is part of the Looking Up series, which explores the unique architectural and historical stories that can be discovered when we raise our gaze above the sidewalk, … Continued
Washington Square Arch: Then AND Now
One of the many tools historic preservationists use in their work is historic images. They are an invaluable resource in seeing firsthand how our built environment has changed and stayed … Continued
An 89-Year Tradition Continues in Washington Square Park
Last week, all eyes were on Rockefeller Center for the lighting of that famous Christmas tree. But did you know that the tree lighting in Washington Square Park was a … Continued
This July, Music fills Washington Square Park
Last night, the 55th Washington Square Music Festival held its first of four free concerts in Washington Square Park. The music festival is sponsored by the Washington Square Association, an … Continued
Barefoot in Washington Square Park
On May 25, 1967, the film Barefoot in the Park, based on the Neil Simon play, was released. It’s fun to watch this film now, to see how some things … Continued
What NYU Doesn’t Want You to Know About Faculty Housing at Washington Square Village
NYU’s massive, out-of-scale plan to construct 2 million square feet of new buildings within the Washington Square Village and Silver Towers superblocks is touted by the University as being desperately … Continued
On This Day: Washington Square Arch
On this day in 1895 (that’s 117 years ago if you’re counting), Washington Square Arch was dedicated. The above image shows what the arch looked like that year. Designed by … Continued
Winter Wonderland in Washington Square Park
The settling in of cold weather has us here at GVSHP feeling a little nostalgic for snowfalls past. Images from the GVSHP archive of Washington Square Park covered in snow … Continued
My Favorite Things: Washington Square North
The iconic early 19th century rowhouses that flank the north side of Washington Square Park are in many a passersby’s mind synonymous with the early history of the neighborhood. Originally, … Continued
From George Washington to Hudson Square: The history of the Charlton-King-VanDam neighborhood
It’s an often-overlooked enclave with the largest concentration of Federal and Greek Revival style houses in New York City. Its origins can be traced back to historical figures as esteemed … Continued
The Last Hurrah for Traffic in the Square
This is one of a series of blog posts which highlights the information found in our new Village Independent Democrats collection in our Preservation History Archive. For decades traffic was allowed to freely flow through … Continued
Exploring Women’s History South of Union Square
There’s no better time than Women’s History Month to explore the lives and accomplishments of the many influential women who lived and worked South of Union Square. One of our … Continued
The Lives of Writers #SouthOfUnionSquare
Today we’re celebrating the accomplishments of some historic writers and authors who made their mark in the neighborhood South of Union Square. Writing is one of the many creative professions … Continued
The Antique Business District South of Union Square: Seidenberg Antiques, 36 East 12th Street
The area South of Union Square was once the antique center of the country. During the second half of the 20th century, dozens of freight trucks would converge in the … Continued
More Than Dizzy and Duke: Jazz Legends South of Union Square
“I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about… Now [jazz] was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.” – Nina … Continued
#SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Celebrating Women’s History Month
“South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of … Continued
#SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Peggy Bacon
“South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of … Continued
Bookstores Long Gone Live On via South of Union Square Tour
Once upon a time, people bought almost all of their books in bookstores. People still do a lot of literary shopping in local storefronts, and our neighborhoods still have many … Continued
#SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Chaim Gross
“South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of … Continued
#SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Lucile Blanch
“South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of … Continued
#SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: MORE Artist Studios at 30 East 14th Street
“South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of … Continued
The Gilded Village: Shopping in the Neighborhood #SouthOfUnionSquare
The Gilded Age in New York City, from roughly the end of the Civil War to 1900, is a cacophony of contradictions. On the surface, the era was defined by … Continued
#SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: The Artist Studios of 30 East 14th Street
“South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of … Continued
#SouthOfUnionSquare Master Architect: James Renwick, Jr.
The neighborhood #SouthOfUnionSquare can be characterized as a true crossroads — where art, politics, industry, commerce, the New York elite, and the working class collided to create an eclectic built … Continued
Architecture #SouthOfUnionSquare: the German-American Legacy
October, which is German-American Heritage Month, celebrates the contributions Germans and German-Americans have made to American history and culture. In the late 19th century, the largest German-speaking community in the … Continued
#SouthofUnionSquare — Irish History Tour
Our South of Union Square map offers an interactive look into this area of Greenwich Village and the East Village which is so rich in history but also so lacking … Continued
Women’s History #SouthofUnionSquare
The neighborhood south of Union Square holds a unique place in the history of women’s rights and women’s suffrage movements.
Irish American Heritage Permeates #SouthOfUnionSquare
Irish American figures defined the blocks where Greenwich Village meets the East Village.
#SouthofUnionSquare — The Social Reform Club at 45 University Place
In 1900, the Social Reform Club hosted a lecture by labor leader Edward King.
#SouthofUnionSquare — James Renwick, Jr. Tour
James Renwick was one of the most influential, accomplished, and skilled American architects of the 19th century.
#SouthOfUnionSquare Tour — Libraries and The Formation of the NYPL
In 1754, there was no library in New York. Can you believe it? Today we are taking a wonderful journey through our neighborhoods to trace the beginnings of the New … Continued
The Scopes Monkey Trial and its origins in Greenwich Village, south of Union Square
On July 10, 1925, what would come to be known as the “Scopes Monkey Trial” began in Dayton, Tennessee.
Jackson Square Library: An Exquisite Building, and once a church of ‘Exquisite Panic’
Jackson Square Library, one of New York City’s first free circulating libraries, was a gift of George Washington Vanderbilt, III.
Cultural Innovation Emanates From One Sheridan Square Throughout the Decades
The theater at 1 Sheridan Square has a long history as a vibrant, varied West Village performance space. Housed in a building constructed in 1834 by Samuel Whitmore, the space … Continued
Publishing giants, radical literature, and women’s suffrage: More secrets of Union Square South
The area south of Union Square, on the border between Greenwich Village and the East Village, is changing. The approval of the new 14th Street Tech Hub south of Union Square combined … Continued
Tompkins Square Park Through the Years
Over the years, Off the Grid has featured many posts about Tompkins Square Park, including The Young Lords Start in Tompkins Square Park, The Tompkins Square Park Riots of 1988, … Continued
Happy Birthday, George Washington (sort of)
George Washington was born on February 22nd, and his birthday was unofficially celebrated by Americans on that date throughout the 19th century. February 22nd finally became a federal holiday in … Continued
Celebrating Washington’s Birthday
This post is the third in a three-part series about holidays held in the Village, a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall 2014 Intro to Public History … Continued
“The Ink Pot” on Sheridan Square, Then & Now
Happy New Year! And what better way to kick off a brand new year than by sharing one of our favorite series with you: Then & Now. Let’s turn the … Continued
The March on Washington and the Village
On August 28th, 1963, one of the most iconic and transformative events of the civil rights movement took place, the ‘March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.’ One of the … Continued
Sir Winston Churchill Square: 2013 Village Award Winner (and one of my favorite places!)
If you have ever spent time in the area where Bleecker Street meets Sixth Avenue, then you know it’s a busy place with lots of people, cars, buses, bicycles, strollers, … Continued
Then & Now: Washington Mews
A familiar site to New Yorkers and visitors alike, the charming Washington Mews sits just one block north of Washington Square Park. There are a few street names in New … Continued
South Village At Stake in Hudson Square Vote Tomorrow, Pt. II
Yesterday, in anticipation of the vote on the Hudson Square rezoning, we took a look at some of the sites currently threatened or recently lost in the South Village. Today, … Continued
Tompkins Square tree offers more than good cheer
Two weeks ago, Off the Grid featured a notice announcing the lighting of the tree in Tompkins Square Park. At this year’s lighting ceremony on December 9th, a plaque was … Continued
Hudson Square Rezoning and the South Village
As GVSHP recently announced, the Hudson Square rezoning application is now on the desk of the Manhattan Borough President, after Community Board #2 pointedly recommended it be turned down UNLESS … Continued
What’s Happening on Washington Mews?
One of the resources that GVSHP offers to the community is its Preservation Watch program- a way to help ensure that serious landmarks violations are reported and the landmarks law … Continued
Tonight — The Hudson Square Rezoning and You
Trinity Real Estate, the major property owner in the Hudson Square neighborhood, is proposing to rezone more than a dozen blocks in Hudson Square, stretching from Houston to Canal Street, … Continued
This Day in History: Abingdon Square Becomes a Public Park
One of the most interesting things about New York City’s public parks is the rich history that lies beyond the grass and trees. Abingdon Square, bounded by 8th Avenue, Hudson … Continued
Washington’s Arch
With Presidents’ Day, celebrating George Washington’s birthday (among other things) just around the corner, we thought we would take a brief look at one of the Village’s most conspicuous monuments … Continued
The History of Sheridan Square
On this day, August 1, in the year 1864 during the Civil War, General Philip Sheridan was appointed by Ulysses S. Grant as commander of the Army of the Shenandoah, … Continued
Intersectionality and the Past, Present, and Future of Activism in Our Neighborhoods
After the Supreme Court Decision DOBBS v.JACKSON WOMEN’S HEALTH ORGANIZATION overturning Roe v. Wade was released on Friday, June 24, people took to the streets. It was no surprise that people hoping to make their voices heard looked to our neighborhoods as a gathering place. Two of the many protests and rallies that took place in New York City were held in Washington Square Park and Union Square. These protests were organized by intersectional advocacy groups across Labor, Defund the Police, Housing, Immigration, and LGBTQIA+ movements.
Carolee Schneemann’s Kinetic Theater at Judson Memorial Church
The 1892 McKim, Mead & White Italianate Eclectic style Baptist church on Washington Square set the scene for some of feminist artist Carolee Schneemann’s most notorious works of kinetic theater – including 1964’s groundbreaking “Meat Joy.
Beyond the Village and Back: Cushman Row, 408-418 West 20th Street
Along with the houses on Washington Square North, Chelsea’s ‘Cushman Row’ at 408-418 West 20th Street is frequently noted as the finest row of Greek Revival residences in New York City.
Celebrating the Impact of the Landmarks Law in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo
The New York City Landmarks Law was enacted on April 19, 1965, by Mayor Robert Wagner. It was the culmination of lengthy and laborious process, spurred in part, famously, by … Continued
Celebrating the Landmarks of Immigration in the Greenwich Village Historic District
April is both the time of year when immigrant heritage week is celebrated in New York (commemorating the day in 1907 when more immigrants passed through Ellis Island than any … Continued
Creating a Historic District in Greenwich Village
This is one of a series of blog posts which highlights the information found in our Village Independent Democrats collection in our Preservation History Archive. “Of the Historic Districts in New York City which have … Continued
The Village in Bloom
Early spring is a magical time in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. As we recently discussed, the season has long been a source of inspiration for poets, artists, … Continued
The Original World Trade Center, Memorialized in our Historic Image Archive
The highly-anticipated original World Trade Center opened on April 4, 1973. Construction on the seven-building complex began in 1966, and by the time the towers topped out in 1970 at … Continued
Edward Hopper’s Greenwich Village Historic District
Here at Village Preservation, we celebrate April as “Greenwich Village Historic District Month,” since it was on April 29, 1969 that the district was landmarked, culminating a years-long battle to … Continued
Preserving the Past for the Future: A Journey Through the Greenwich Village Historic District
The Greenwich Village Historic District (GVHD) is a haven of history, culture, and artistic expression many have called the beating heart of New York City. The GVHD stands as a … Continued
A Troubling Look Inside of the Women’s House of Detention
This is one of a series of blog posts which highlights the fascinating contents in our Village Independent Democrats collection, added to our Preservation History Archive in early 2024. The Women’s House of Detention opened … Continued
Spring Inspires Poetry in Greenwich Village
“For two weeks or more the trees hesitated;the little leaves waited,carefully indicating their characteristics.” — Excerpt from the poem “A Cold Spring” by Elizabeth Bishop, who lived at 16 Charles … Continued
The Village Independent Democrats Fight NYU
This is one of a series of blog posts which highlights the information found in our Village Independent Democrats collection, added to our Preservation History Archive in early 2024. In 1953, Robert Moses announced plans … Continued
Carol Greitzer: Helping Defeat Tammany Hall & Saving Greenwich Village
This is one of a series of blog posts which highlights the information found in our Village Independent Democrats collection, added to our Preservation History Archive in early 2024. Carol Greitzer is a politician, … Continued
Ida Rauh: A Pioneer at the Crossection of American Theater and Civil Rights
March is Women’s History Month, and while we celebrate women’s history all year, we do so especially during this particular month when we highlight the countless women of our neighborhoods … Continued
Exploring Virtual Village Voices, Part 5: Billie Holiday, Edward Hopper, and Jane Jacobs
In 2021 and 2022, Village Preservation developed an innovative outdoor public art exhibition that was displayed throughout Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. VILLAGE VOICES featured photographs, artifacts, and … Continued
Exploring Virtual Village Voices, Part 3: cummings, Cunningham, and Draper
In 2021 and 2022, Village Preservation developed an innovative outdoor public art exhibition that was displayed throughout Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. VILLAGE VOICES featured photographs, artifacts, and soundscape recordings … Continued
Woman Crush Wednesday: Edith Wharton’s Greenwich Village
Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862- August 11, 1937) was born into a family who was, at the time, considered to be the epitome of “Old New York,” — the New … Continued
Snow Days in Village Preservation’s Historic Image Archive
Some winters in New York City see almost no appreciable snowfall (prior to late January 2024, for example, there had been over 700 days without), and other years we have … Continued
Alice Paul: An Architect of the 19th Amendment
Alice Paul was the architect of some of the most outstanding political achievements on behalf of women in the 20th century. One of the foremost leaders of the twentieth-century women’s … Continued
Jenny and The Cat Club: A Fictional World Based in the Real Greenwich Village
The year is 1944, and in a brick row house by a lush Greenwich Village garden lives a “shy little black cat” named Jenny Linsky with her caretaker, the old … Continued
Welcome to the Neighborhood: Hex & Co., 801 Broadway
Today we welcome a new small business to our neighborhoods — help us welcome the next. Tell us which new independent store in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo … Continued
Architect and Artist: The Rigid Le Corbusier Colored Outside the Lines in Greenwich Village
A city “utterly devoid of harmony” — that is how the controversial Swiss-French architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier, described New York without actually having ever visited when … Continued
Castles in the Sky on Sixth Avenue: Calvert Vaux and the Victorian Gothic
Greenwich Village, with its cobblestone streets and historic brownstones, stands as a testament to the rich architectural heritage that defines New York City. Among the many architects who left an … Continued
The Folk Music Revival Scene: A South Village Tour
December is South Village Month – join us in celebrating this vibrant neighborhood all month long! The South Village in the 50s and 60s was a hotbed of creativity and activism. Where … Continued
The New York City Work Horse
New York City was powered by horses for almost three hundred years. At its peak, well over 150,000 horses and by some estimates up to 200,000 lived in the city. … Continued
The Meat Markets of the South Village
December is South Village Month, when we celebrate the incredible neighborhood south of Washington Square and West 4th Street. Village Preservation kicked off the effort to preserve this endangered historic neighborhood in December … Continued
What’s So Special About the South Village?
Village Preservation kicked off its campaign to honor, document, and seek landmark designation for the South Village and its remarkable immigrant and artistic histories in December 2006, and completed the effort in December 2016 with … Continued
Celebrating the Origins of the South Village
December is South Village Month – join us in celebrating this vibrant neighborhood all month long! In December 2016, following a multi-year advocacy campaign spearheaded by Village Preservation, the Sullivan … Continued
Veterans in the Village
You’re probably not that likely to associate military veterans with Greenwich Village and the East Village; in the popular mind, the neighborhoods’ profile is much more strongly associated with peace … Continued
Decades of Spooky Splendor: Celebrating the Village Halloween Parade
Since 1973, New York City has hosted one of the most extravagant and enchanting Halloween celebrations in the world: the Village Halloween Parade. Its beginnings in the early 1970s were … Continued
Retracing the Stories and Homes of Early Village Preservationists
By the time the demolition of McKim, Mead & White’s monumental Penn Station commenced on October 28th, 1963, advocates had been fighting to save the Beaux Arts building for several … Continued
Celebrating Shirley Hayes, Village Activist
“You can help save Washington Square Park. Robert Moses can be stopped. A handful of women did it in Central Park. The bird watchers did it in Central Park. The … Continued
The Modernist Jewelry Studios of Greenwich Village
After World War II, the U.S. saw the rise of modernist jewelry: handcrafted jewelry inspired by Cubism, Surrealism and Constructivism. There were two hubs of this movement: San Francisco, which … Continued
A History of Protest and the Marjorie Zien Collection
Greenwich Village resident and photographer Marjorie Zien has spent the last several decades chronicling life in her neighborhood and city. In 2021 she donated a collection of photos to Village … Continued
Architect and Artist: The Rigid Le Corbusier Colored Outside the Lines in Greenwich Village
A city “utterly devoid of harmony” — that is how the controversial Swiss-French architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier, described New York without actually having ever visited when … Continued