The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is more than a hospital on East 13th Street and Second Avenue. It is a living monument to innovation, inclusion, and resilience. Founded in 1820 by Drs. Edward Delafield and John Kearny Rodgers, the Infirmary became the first specialty hospital in the Western Hemisphere, setting […]
The East Village’s Art Deco structures may not immediately catch the eye, but at a closer look, they exemplify the many unique and handsome features from within the Art Deco tradition. As a part of Village Preservation’s recently published Art Deco Storymap, we dive into the history and architectural details of the East Village’s Art […]
In April of 1965 the New York City Landmarks Law was approved and took effect. Created to protect the City’s invaluable stock of historic sites, it allows for the preservation of buildings, neighborhoods, and other historic locations through landmark designation. To celebrate the law’s 60th Anniversary, Village Preservation created an interactive Timeline Map, showing the history […]
Standing at the corner of University Place and East 11th Street is Greenwich Village’s historic Hotel Albert, a conglomeration of four buildings built in stages between 1875 and 1924, part of which started off as an apartment complex for respectable clientele and an early example of the then-revolutionary residential concept known as French flats. By […]
When audiences first saw The Seventh Victim following its release on August 21, 1943, they were introduced not only to a chilling mystery centered on a vaguely homoerotic satanic cult in Greenwich Village, in a story that served as a prequel to the successful thriller Cat People, which was released the year before. They also […]
Sills get all the credit. Sitting pretty at the bases of windows, they support what’s above them and provide a ledge for flower pots or a perch for birds. But there’s another architectural element integral to any window, a perhaps lesser-known vocabulary word but one of equal importance: the lintel. Lintels are the load-bearing horizontal […]
It was the summer of 1965; the United States and the USSR were racing to the moon; the U.S. escalated its involvement in the Vietnam war; and years of civil rights protests led to the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. The 1960s are often remembered as a time of social upheaval, […]
On August 18, 1970, New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission landmarked the Greek Revival gem at 37 East 4th Street. Often referred to as the Samuel Tredwell Skidmore House, it was constructed 1844-45 by leading businessman Samuel Tredwell Skidmore (1801–1881). Skidmore was a cousin, once removed, of Seabury Tredwell of the Merchant’s House Museum, located […]
In 1925, a Jewish-Polish immigrant named Eve Adams opened a tearoom at 129 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. The spot quickly became a gathering place for artists, poets, activists, and, most notably, members of the lesbian community. An outspoken lesbian and activist herself, Eve undoubtedly changed the course of queer culture and history in our […]
The New Deal is one of the most consequential presidential achievements in the history of this country. Context matters. The national economy at the time was on the verge of collapse. A third of the workforce was unemployed; panicked withdrawals threatened the viability of banks; soup kitchens had lines that went around the block; half […]
Clara Tice (May 22, 1888 — February 2, 1973) was never one to blend quietly into the background. Dubbed the “Queen of Greenwich Village,” she emerged in the early 20th century as a vivid figure in the bohemian art world. Her short bobbed hair, daring fashions, and provocative illustrations made her a striking emblem of […]
When the Singer Building rose in stages between 1897 and 1908, it briefly crowned the Lower Manhattan skyline with one of the city’s most ornate vertical statements: a richly detailed, slender tower designed for the Singer Sewing Machine Company by the Beaux-Arts architect Ernest Flagg. Less than sixty years later, the tower was intentionally demolished […]
August is often, or ideally, spent soaking up the sun and relaxing by the water. Considered a period of rest before the busy fall season, there are a surprising number of pieces in our archives that come from this quiet month. Our archives include historic images, neighborhood histories and oral histories. Part of our extensive […]
Our Summer 2025 intern team truly is the best and brightest! This dynamic group is one of the largest cohorts we’ve ever hosted, and they’ve impressed us with their organization, attention to detail, and genuine passion for our neighborhoods. Energetic and self-motivated, they’ve made meaningful contributions across a wide range of projects, and left a […]
Café Wha? sits half-underground at 115 MacDougal, a basement once used to stable horses. In 1959 actor Manny Roth hauled in broken marble for the floor, sprayed the walls black, and lit candles on cast-off tables. Capacity: 325 souls and one restless dream of fame. Greenwich Village already pulsed with poetry, but Roth’s “swingingest coffee […]
Decades after the show’s debut on September 22, 1994, the corner of Bedford and Grove Street remains a must-see destination for fans of a certain iconic ‘90s sitcom. From 1994 to 2004, Friends dominated television screens, influencing a generation into talking a certain way and a certain kind of haircut. Primarily set in our neighborhood, […]
At the dawn of the 20th century, Greenwich Village was a densely populated immigrant neighborhood, a mix of mainly Italian, Jewish, Irish, German, Spanish, and Chinese newcomers who together faced overcrowding, unsanitary housing, and exploitative landlord practices. Social worker Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch founded Greenwich House in 1902 at 26 Jones Street to tackle these systemic […]
Most every historic building in New York City holds several different stories within its walls. Buildings in our neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo have been host to a kaleidoscopic array of artists, musicians, politicians, small businesses, activist organizations, and so much more. Village Preservation’s many online resources help you know which […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. Think back of the time when computers were […]
Landmarked on August 2nd, 1967, the MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District, is the one of the City’s oldest. Comprised of only 22 buildings, it is one of the City’s smallest historic districts, but also one of its most unique. Encompassing two rows of houses, twelve facing MacDougal Street and ten on Sullivan Street, they were originally […]
While they may no longer be large foldout papers that you can never seem to fold back together, maps remain incredibly important, even if they are now digital tools on our smartphones. Take a moment and think if this has this happened to you: you’re zooming in on Google Maps on your phone trying to […]
Do you live in an apartment? Well, for most New Yorkers, that was not always the case. Apartment living, while now synonymous with New York life, is a newer phenomenon, having not gained popularity with most New Yorkers until the late 19th century. Before the Civil War, unless they were poor or working class, or […]
Through her existence, action, and reflection, Sarah Schulman (b. July 28, 1958) has deeply impacted the fabric of New York City’s bohemian, LGBTQ+, and artistic communities. A native Villager, she was born on 10th Street and has lived on 9th Street for over 40 years. Her deep understanding of our neighborhoods, prowess as a writer, […]
Long before the soft hum of a window unit or the whisper-cool breezes of central air, residents of Greenwich Village and the East Village faced the full force of the city’s steamy summers head-on. For wealthy New Yorkers the most obvious way of dealing with the heat was to escape it. They headed to Newport, […]
The designation of 486 and 488 Greenwich Street as individual New York City landmarks on July 24, 2007, marked a critical milestone in the long-standing effort by Village Preservation to safeguard the remaining examples of early 19th-century Federal-style architecture in Lower Manhattan. Located in the Hudson Square neighborhood, these modest yet elegant row houses offer […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was passed on April 19, 1965. During the first year of the law, some impressive sites in Greenwich Village and the East Village were named into the inaugural class of landmarks, and all but one were in a few blocks of one another, more or less where the neighborhoods […]
On July 22, 1974, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the nearly completed West Village Houses, a complex of low-rise walk-up apartment buildings spanning portions of the blocks between Morton and Bank Streets, and Washington and West Streets, in the far West Village. Not without its adversaries (most of all Robert Moses), the project emerged […]
Voices and Landmarks of Social Change in the Village There are moments when a building becomes more than brick and stone — when it holds not just architectural value, but the emotional weight of the people who passed through it. And sometimes, it is through the voices of those people that we learn to see […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. They say even cowgirls get the blues. But […]
Explore the History Behind the WallsStep into the story of the French Flats—19th-century apartment buildings that transformed how New Yorkers lived. With Village Preservation’s interactive map, you can explore each site, view historic images, and uncover the lives of artists, activists, and everyday people who called these flats home.Experience the map In the 1870s, something […]
On July 16, 1951, the best-selling novel, The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger (January 1, 1919 – January 27, 2010), was released. It’s a coming-of-age story that follows the depressed and increasingly dejected sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield in his aimless escapades around Manhattan. An aspiring lost soul, Holden spends an unchaperoned weekend wandering the […]
In the mid-1980s, staff members of the Landmarks Preservation Commission embarked on the Federal Rowhouse Project, an ambitious effort to document Manhattan’s remaining federal era rowhouses. These houses, dating from about 1790 to 1835, represent the oldest remnants of English settlement in Manhattan. Many were located below 14th Street, with the highest concentration in Greenwich […]
During the long days of summer, there is nothing better than lounging in one of our neighborhood’s parks. Many notable visual artists have been captivated by the natural beauty of our parks, as well as the interesting convergences of human activity. Today, we will take a closer look at some depictions of our most famous […]
Martin Wong (July 11, 1946 – August 12, 1999) was one of the most affecting and visionary artists to emerge from New York City’s East Village and Lower East Side art scene in the late 20th century. A painter, archivist, and chronicler of the marginalized, Wong transformed crumbling walls on the Lower East Side into […]
We’ve all seen them: signs tucked under the official names of local streets, honoring a neighborhood notable with a “Way,” “Place,” or “Corner.” Unfortunately, more often than not, the people on these “co-named” street signs are often unknown to most passers-by. We look at three of thosehonorees: Bella Abzug, Sara Curry, and Frieda Zames.
New York City was changing rapidly in the early 1900s. Industrialization and exponential population growth led to a shifting architectural landscape: single-family homes gave way to grand high-rise apartment buildings, and several neighborhoods increasingly became host to commercial and manufacturing uses. One such area was the Meatpacking District where, in 1887, the City widened Gansevoort […]
Born March 11, 1936, author and architect Nathan Silver was best known for his 1967 book, Lost New York, which documented great New York City landmarks and architecture that had disappeared. Silver passed away on May 19, 2025, but remains a towering figure in the preservation of New York City’s architectural memory. Lost New York was not just […]
William Kunstler (Born July 7, 1919) was more than just a defense attorney — he was a fierce advocate for civil rights, social justice, and the marginalized. Known for taking on some of the most controversial and groundbreaking legal cases of the 20th century, Kunstler made his home on Gay Street in Greenwich Village, a […]
The 1975 Daily News Headline, “Ford to City: Drop Dead,” has become symbolic of the state of New York City during the 1970s. Bankruptcy was looming, and as many middle-class and wealthier residents left for the suburbs, the City was unable to fund key public services. While President Gerald Ford never actually used the words “Drop […]
Hosting over 80 programs annually, nearly all of which are free and open to the public, Village Preservation programming brings the architectural and cultural history of our neighborhoods to life through tours, lectures, conversations, webinars, and much more. You can revisit many of these programs on Village Preservation’s YouTube channel. Today we take a look […]
Today we welcome aboard Gaël (pronounced Ga—el) Evers as our new Director of Communication and Design, joining current and continuing Communications and Design Director David Herman. Gaël is a graphic designer and creative strategist who’s passionate about crafting clear, compelling communication that connects deeply with audiences. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, raised […]
Each year, thousands of self-identified lesbians take to the streets of New York City for the annual Dyke March, where participants march from Bryant Park to Washington Square Park in a proud display of protest and community. And while the New York Dyke March has become a local tradition, the first Dyke March, however, orginated […]
At her prime, she was called “the most dangerous woman in America.” At her core, she was a Jewish Russian immigrant who relentlessly advocated for women’s equality, workers’ rights, free speech, and political reform. Emma Goldman (1869–1940) was an anarchist and activist at heart, a pivotal leader in the American progressive movement. And it was […]
Few graphic designers get to achieve national recognition for their work in a variety of media, and have their designs continue to influence and delight the public after their careers end. Milton Glaser, who received a National Medal of Arts in 2009, was one such outstanding designer, and he got his start here in the […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was signed on April 19, 1965 by Mayor Robert Wagner. Since then, about 38,000 NYC properties have been protected under the law. To mark that occasion, we created a StoryMap showing a timeline of all landmark designations in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, from 1965 to 2025. […]
In addition to being a community facility beloved by generations; a landmark important to many groups including LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities; the backdrop for several feature films; a significant holdout as the last remaining bath house on the west side of Manhattan; and an important work of architecture by the firm Renwick, Aspinwall & Tucker, […]
Tony Dapolito Recreation Center stands in the heart of Greenwich Village and has served these many years as much more than just a city rec center. It’s a place where generations of New Yorkers learned to swim, shoot hoops, and connect with their neighbors. It’s also a cultural touchstone — immortalized in films like Raging […]
Lillian Hellman, Greenwich Village, and Her Stand Against HUAC Greenwich Village has always been more than just a charming New York neighborhood — it has been a crucible for radical ideas, artistic experimentation, and political defiance. Among the many bold voices shaped by the Village’s spirit was Lillian Hellman, a trailblazing playwright and screenwriter who […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. When you shop at a market, you notice […]
On June 18, 2015, Village Preservation unveiled a plaque in collaboration with The New School, honoring the legacy of Modern dance pioneer Martha Graham. The plaque was placed at 66 Fifth Avenue, where Graham’s company rehearsed and forged new performances in the 1930s and 40s. See images of the unveiling here and a video here. Graham […]
In the 19th century, the Lower East Side including what we now call the East Village was home to one of the largest German-speaking communities in the world outside of Europe. Known as Kleindeutschland, or “Little Germany,” it was a thriving cultural enclave that shaped much of New York City’s early immigrant history. Today, though […]
Pride Month is an important time to honor the struggles and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in New York City and beyond. While some key sites across the city have been landmarked to recognize that history — including those we’ve campaigned for in our neighborhoods — numerous sites essential to the progress made remain unprotected […]
Last night marked another wonderful, successful Annual Meeting and Village Awards, one of our favorite nights of the year at Village Preservation! This year, we had the privilege of hosting the meeting and reception in not one, but two spectacular historic spaces in our neighborhoods: Cooper Union Great Hall As has been the tradition for […]
Across the country, June is recognized as Pride Month, celebrating LGBTQ+ communities in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in the fight for gay rights and liberation. Our neighborhoods have held a longstanding, deep connection with the queer community, having served as hubs for bars, restaurants, clubs, theaters, and community centers that […]
On June 17, 2015 Village Preservation held its 35th Annual Meeting and 25th Annual Village Awards in the landmarked Auditorium of The New School. That event, emceed by Calvin Trillin, honored some amazing awardees, including Barbara Shaum, Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, David Rothenberg, The Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation, 201 East 12th Street Renovation, and our Regina […]
An exciting feature of Village Preservation’s sizable Historic Image Archive is the ability to filter images by category, or “tag.” We have added tags to the more than 5,000 historic photographs in our archive, so that users can easily view images organized by their interests. To celebrate pride, we will explore images using the “LGBTQ+” tag, which […]
The “Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act” (FBAHA) has been reintroduced in the current New York State legislative session, and Village Preservation Executive Director Andrew Berman participated in a recent panel hosted by the City Club of New York to discuss this proposed legislation and share his concerns. Joining him were urban planning consultant George Janes, Sisters […]
On June 5th, 1975, the Talking Heads performed their first gig, as an opening act for the Ramones at legendary venue CBGB. The show started the band’s career, and kickstarted their relationship with CBGB. CBGB was opened at 315 Bowery in 1973 by Hilly Krystal, its name standing for “Country Bluegrass Blues.” Krystal eventually changed […]
In the southeast corner of Washington Square Park stands a bronze figure whose legacy quietly shaped both a nation across the Atlantic and a community right here in New York. General Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807–1882), the fiery 19th-century patriot who helped unify Italy, is immortalized in this statue — a tribute not only to his revolutionary […]
Throughout the history of LGBTQIA+ life in our neighborhoods, there is a rich lineage of spaces specifically intended for queer women and lesbians. Today, as we start Pride Month, let’s take a look at just a few of the many historic lesbian bars, clubs, and hangouts that called our neighborhoods home — from a century […]
Village Preservation is proud to honor the La Lanterna di Vittorio as a 2025 Village Awardee! Join us in recognizing La Lanterna and the five other remarkable awardees at Village Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Village Awards on Wednesday, June 11th, at the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union. Registration is free and open to all. Click here to […]
Village Preservation is proud to honor the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center as a 2025 Village Awardee! Join us in recognizing SNMVC and the five other remarkable awardees at Village Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Village Awards on Wednesday, June 11th, at the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union. Registration is free and open to all. […]
In December 2021, the City Council passed the de Blasio administration’s contentious proposal to rezone SoHo, NoHo, and Chinatown. The goal of the plan was to address the lack of new affordable housing in these communities by allowing for larger developments and more “as-of-right” developments that would include new residential components. The City’s 10-year study […]
A New York winter can be brutal. There’s slush in the streets, wind tunnels down every avenue, and it feels as though the city is enveloped in a bleak, monochromatic grayscale. But, hope is not lost, because when that first warm breeze arrives and replaces the puffy coat can finally be put away, we’re all […]
The Chrysler Building is one of the most iconic and beloved skyscrapers ever built. With its soaring spire, chrome-plated gargoyles modeled after 1929 Chrysler hood ornaments, and gleaming, terraced crown, it was the epitome of Art Deco design: elegant, futuristic, and unapologetically modern. Its dazzling lobby welcomed its first visitors when the Chrysler Building opened […]
Imagine a time before independent film. Just about no one makes them. If more did, no one would show them. And if someone showed them, few would watch them and certainly no one would write about them, because they just aren’t something worthy of serious discussion. If all that changed, it was, to no small […]
May is Lower East Side History Month, a time to reflect on the rich tapestry of cultures, stories, and activism that have shaped this iconic New York neighborhood. This year, our Annual Meeting/Village Awards celebration will be especially poignant as we honor Charles Fitzgerald and his wife, Kathy Cerick Fitzgerald, who will be recipients of […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was signed on April 19, 1965 by Mayor Robert Wagner. Since then, about 38,000 NYC properties have been protected under the law. To mark that occasion, we created a StoryMap showing a timeline of all landmark designations in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, from 1965 to 2025. […]
Our neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo have long been a hub of creativity, activism, and cultural exchange, and its LGBTQ+ history is deeply woven into the neighborhood’s identity. From the history-making actions at Stonewall and Julius’, to the rich drag and ballroom culture, LGBTQ+ residents have shaped the social, artistic, and […]
Village Preservation is proud to honor Forbidden Planet as a 2025 Village Awardee! Join us in recognizing Forbidden Planet and the five other remarkable awardees at Village Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Village Awards on Wednesday, June 11th, at the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union. Registration is free and open to all. Click here to register. At […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. We are not qualified to tell whether our […]
Village Preservation is proud to honor Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens, or LUNGS, as a 2025 Village Awardee! Join us in recognizing LUNGS and the five other remarkable awardees at Village Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Village Awards on Wednesday, June 11th, at the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union. Registration is free and open to all. […]
Each Fall and Spring semester, Village Preservation offers a Continuing Education Course for Real Estate Professionals. Designed to fulfill all legal requirements for the compulsory 22.5 hours of continuing ed credits for real estate licensees, the course is also open for the general public to audit at a discounted rate. Our home base for the […]
No. 58 Bleecker Street is a more than 200-year-old house with a particularly storied past. While it was built in 1822-1823 for James Roosevelt, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s great grandfather, he is far from the building’s most significant occupant. On May 12th, 1857, Elizabeth Blackwell, opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children in […]
On May 9, 1799, St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery was consecrated, marking a pivotal moment in New York City’s religious and architectural history. This consecration followed four years after the laying of the cornerstone in 1795, and the church was completed under the guidance of architect John McComb Jr., renowned for his work on New York […]
Village Preservation’s recently released A Century of Art Deco Storymap features some 40 outstanding examples of the beloved design style. Among those historic structures — most of which still stand in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo — are two structures that are decidedly not Art Deco. Rather, we honor two of their past […]
Village Preservation is proud to honor Danspace Project as a 2025 Village Awardee! Join us in recognizing Danspace and the five other remarkable awardees at Village Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Village Awards on Wednesday, June 11th, at the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union. Registration is free and open to all. Click here to register. In the […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was signed into law on April 19, 1965 by Mayor Robert Wagner. Since then, about 38,000 NYC properties have been protected under the law. To mark that occasion, we created a StoryMap showing a timeline of all landmark designations in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, from 1965 […]
The market buildings of the Meatpacking District were developed from the 1840s-1950s, designed in a range of architectural styles, and help make it one of New York City’s most unique neighborhoods. Typical market building features, such as metal canopies and 1-to-3 story heights bring sense of cohesion to the district. Most of the neighborhood was […]
The month of May bursts with meaning in New York City, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the historic and diverse neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. May is Haitian Heritage Month, Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Lower East Side History Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, and National […]
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 you’re excited about by emailing us at info@villagepreservation.org. As advocates for local small business, we find great satisfaction in hearing of new independent establishments opening […]
Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes one of our favorite annual traditions: Village Awards season! This year, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Village Preservation invites you to the 45th Annual Meeting and 35th Village Awards. This free, public celebration honors the extraordinary people, places, and organizations that make our neighborhoods some […]
On April 28, 1925, the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, or “International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Art,” opened in Paris, France. This was the official launch of an architectural and artistic style that had already been percolating, defined by molded masses and geometric forms, bold colors, sharp kinetic lines and […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was signed into law on April 19, 1965, by Mayor Robert Wagner. Since then, about 38,000 properties in all five boroughs have been protected under the law. Many of the landmarks designated in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo were highlighted as part of our celebration of Landmarks50, […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was signed into law on April 19, 1965 by Mayor Robert Wagner. Since then, about 38,000 NYC properties have been protected under the law. Many of the landmarks designated in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo were highlighted as part of our celebration of Landmarks50, the 50th anniversary […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was signed into law on April 19, 1965, by Mayor Robert Wagner. Since then, about 38,000 properties in all five boroughs have been protected under the law. Many of these buildings and sites are contained within the city’s 157 historic districts and historic district extensions, 16 of which are […]
As Earth Day blooms across New York City, there’s a special kind of quiet beauty on every tree-lined street of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo — neighborhoods where history is embedded in the dust of every brick. While global sustainability efforts often spotlight solar panels and LEED certifications, this Earth Day, let’s celebrate […]
Every first Sunday in May, something quietly magical unfolds in the winding streets of Greenwich Village. As cherry blossoms bloom and stoops warm in the afternoon sun, a few special doors open—not just to private homes, but to entirely different eras. Our Spring House Tour Benefit isn’t just a peek into exquisite interiors—it’s a kind […]
In our series Beyond the Village and Back, we take a look at some great landmarks throughout New York City outside of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, celebrate their special histories, and reveal their (sometimes hidden) connections to the Village. You can also explore via our Beyond the Village and Back: Manhattan South […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. They say that there is nothing either good […]
In an age where access to information is just a click away, digitized archives are becoming essential tools for researchers, students, journalists, and curious minds alike. When organizations make historical materials publicly accessible online, they’re not just preserving the past—they’re actively connecting it to the present and future. Village Preservation’s digitized archive of the Village […]
It was the bullet felt around the world. On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by stage actor, Confederate sympathizer, and white supremacist John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington, DC. Lincoln succumbed to his wounds in the early hours of the following day, April 15, at the Peterson Boarding House just […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was signed into law on April 19, 1965, by Mayor Robert Wagner. Since then, about 38,000 properties around New York City have been protected under the law. In 2015, Village Preservation celebrated the 50th anniversary of this law by highlighting sites through or Landmarks50 blog series. To celebrate the […]
At the start of Fifth Avenue sits the grand Washington Square Arch, welcoming New Yorkers and visitors alike into the heart of Greenwich Village. Today, on a stroll through the park, one might find street artists performing in the empty fountain, college students sharing a quick lunch between classes, and strangers deep in conversation about […]
On April 19th, 1965 the New York City Landmarks Law was passed. This law was created to protect the City’s invaluable stock of historic sites, allowing for buildings, neighborhoods and other historic locations to be preserved through Landmark Designation. Since the law’s passage, more than 38,000 sites around the city have been landmarked, including a […]
The Spring House Tour Benefit is one of my favorite Village Preservation events, and it’s something I look forward to all year. It was the very first event I got to be part of when I joined the team almost two years ago, and it epitomizes a lot of the beautiful things about our neighborhood […]
“The only thing that you absolutely have to know,” Albert Einstein once said, “is the location of the library.” So it’s a good thing that four outstanding, historic branches are located in our neighborhoods. This month, we have even more reason to celebrate these institutions during National Library Week, which highlights the ever-growing importance libraries […]
Our neighborhood is packed with rich histories of trailblazing women who worked, lived, and organized within its streets. Within just one small block in Greenwich Village, consisting of West Washington Place and Sheridan Square between 6th and 7th Avenues, there are multiple sites that have deep connections to Women’s History. On Village Preservation’s Greenwich Village […]
New York City is home to what is arguably the most diverse and vibrant cultural scene anywhere in the world. Within that vast intellectual, artistic, and expressive mosaic there lies a hidden gem—a group where creativity, conversation, and camaraderie come together over an hot cup of America’s favorite caffeinated beverage. That gem is the Coffee […]
