The Supposed Streets of Little Africa
Beginning in the late 18th century, the area more or less defined by today’s Bleecker, Mercer, Thompson, Sullivan, MacDougal, and Carmine Streets started to grow as a free Black community … Continued
← View All
Category: Greenwich Village
Edward Hopper’s Village: Early Sunday Morning on Bleecker Street
Greenwich Village and surrounding neighborhoods have played host to some of the most significant artists and art movements of the 20th century. One of the most well-known artists of the … Continued
The Defiant Lillian Hellman
Lillian Hellman, the playwright, memoirist, and novelist, was born in New Orleans on June 20, 1905. Her family moved to New York City when she was 5 years old, but … Continued
2021 Village Preservation Public Programs Round-Up
As we close the chapter on yet another wild and successful of year of public programs at Village Preservation, we wanted to take the time to reflect and highlight some … Continued
#SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Mary Fife Laning
“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 the … Continued
John Hammond: Villager & 20th Century’s Most Influential Producer
While the name of John Hammond Sr. (December 15, 1910 – July 10, 1987) might be unfamiliar to some, as a talent scout, producer, musicologist, broadcaster, journalist, and mentor, he … Continued
Candy Darling: A Superstar in Her Own Right
Candy Darling (She/Her, November 24, 1944 — March 21, 1974) was a transgender icon and muse for well-known artists and musicians like Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground. Darling was … Continued
National Farm to City Week Highlights the Bounty of Greenmarkets in our Neighborhoods
Did you know that National Farm to City Week begins the Thursday before Thanksgiving? This special week celebrates and recognizes the beneficial partnerships between rural and urban communities that make … Continued
Curious George’s Brave Escape to Greenwich Village
The story of Curious George is so much more than that of one of the most popular children’s books since the 1940s. It’s also the story of a couple who … Continued
Ida Tarbell: An Icon of Investigative Journalism
Ida Tarbell was a woman far ahead of her time, as were many of those who found their way to Greenwich Village at the beginning of the 20th century. She … 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
The Lenape Myths that Explain Their Land: Minetta Creek
Minetta Creek, which ran through what is today Greenwich Village, drew the Native American Lenape to its fertile lands. The Lenape cared for this land, and their myths and legends … Continued
John Guare Oral History: a Writer of the Theater, and of Greenwich Village
Village Preservation shares our oral history collection with the public, highlighting some of the people and stories that make Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo such unique and vibrant … Continued
Three Up, Three Down: Explore Our Greek Revival Heritage in Six Buildings
Two centuries ago, a war began in Europe that would shape boundaries and alliances on the continent for years to come. Greece, which for centuries had been under Ottoman rule, … Continued
Theater Thursday Round Up
It’s Theater Thursday, and for the first time in a long time, we have good news to report on that front! In case you’ve been out of the loop, … Continued
Woman Crush Wednesday: Beatrix Farrand
On the northeastern edge of the Greenwich Village Historic District, at 21 East 11th Street, just west of University Place, sits an 1848 late Greek Revival townhouse with a wide … Continued
Sylvia Rivera: A Controversial But Powerful and Enduring Activist for LGBTQ+ Rights
Sylvia Rivera (July 2, 1951 – February 19, 2002, She/Her) was a trailblazing advocate for the rights of transgender individuals and LGBTQ+ communities. A vocal opponent of racism and transphobia … Continued
Truman Capote and Philip Seymour Hoffman: Greenwich Village Artists Entwined
Truman Streckfus Persons was born on September 30, 1924, in New Orleans. Truman started writing when he was eight years old — as a calling, and also as an answer … Continued
Remembering Experimental Theater Icon Jean-Claude van Itallie
Jean-Claude van Itallie (May 25, 1936 – September 9, 2021) was a mainstay of the American avant-garde theater movement. Belgian-born, Mr. van Itallie immigrated to the United States with his … Continued
“Miss Greenwich Village, 1942”: Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall’s name is iconic, as is her smoldering visage, her dynamic half of the famed Bogie-and-Bacall, her tryst with Frank Sinatra. But her first claim to fame, the windfall … Continued
Romare Bearden and the Formation of An African American Artistic Identity Downtown
Groundbreaking artist, intellectual, and activist Romare Bearden (September 2, 1911 – March 12, 1988) was born in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina. When Bearden was about 3 years old, his parents Bessye … Continued
Beyond the Village and Back: The American Radiator Building
Sitting in Bryant Park behind the New York Public Library’s main branch, tourists and admittedly a few native New Yorkers often marvel at the clear sight they have of the Empire State Building, a rare perspective for midtown Manhattan. Perhaps even rarer is that, within that same view, the iconic tower has some competition in the standout building department from a mere 23-story landmark resplendent in black and gold, one that has a unique connection to Greenwich Village in the last century.
Beyond the Village and Back: The Whitney Museum of American Art
When Marcel Breuer’s Whitney Museum of American Art opened in September 1966, New York Times architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable noted that the inverted ziggurat-like Brutalist structure had quickly become “the most disliked building in New York.”
John Sloan: Village Visionary
Many artists have been inspired by the scenes of life in New York City, particularly Lower Manhattan. But perhaps no artist captures the feeling of New York during the hot, … Continued
Cary Grant Before He Was Cary Grant, in Greenwich Village
Cary Grant: a name synonymous with Hollywood glamor in the mid-20th century. He tumbled and swanned, he looked equally incredible in a pristine tuxedo and in Katherine Hepburn’s fur-embellished silk … Continued
The Mattachine Society, and the Post-Stonewall Shift
As with any revolution, there was a spark, which lit the fire fed by years of quieter work and struggle which preceded it. Such is certainly the case with the … Continued
Mystery on West 4th Street: Why Is This Subway Station Different from All Other Stations?
Riding the A train from Upper Manhattan to Greenwich Village means passing a lot of stations named after the numbered streets directly above them. Starting at 207th Street, you stop … Continued
Martha Graham
Martha Graham never considered herself a genius. For her, the measure of a dancer was their passion, and by that metric, Graham was exceptional. In creating 181 ballets and a … Continued
LGBTQ+ Pride Programs Roundup
The roots of LGBTQ+ life in our neighborhoods are deeper than we even know. In the documentary PS. Burn This Letter Please, which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival … Continued
Out of the Broom Closet: Gay Activist & Village Wiccan Leo Martello
Leo Martello (September 26, 1930 — June 29, 2000) was a noted Wiccan priest, gay rights activist, Greenwich Village resident, and author. He was a founding member of the Strega Tradition, a … Continued
Beyond the Village and Back: The Haier Building, 1352-1362 Broadway
Commanding the northern side of West 36th Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway is what seems to be an imposing house of worship built by ancient Romans.
A ‘Strange’ Spot, on Bleecker Street
You’re walking along Bleecker Street in the heart of Greenwich Village when the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. You feel all sorts of magic surrounding … Continued
Business of the Month: Ansonia Pharmacy, 446 Sixth Avenue
Do you get small surprise gifts with your pharmacy prescription deliveries? Neither do I; but I know who does. Read about our Business of the Month and find out more.
Matt Umanov: Guitar Hero, Sharing Musical Musings and Memories
Matt Umanov may have closed his shop at 273 Bleecker Street back in 2017, but he didn’t stop working. Umanov is still selling guitars online and providing essential guitar repair … Continued
(Even More) Civil Rights and Social Justice Champions in Our Neighborhoods
Village Preservation has long made a priority of celebrating civil rights and social justice history in our neighborhoods.
Asian-American History in Greenwich Village and the East Village
The Asian-American and Pacific Islander community has a more than 150-year-long history in the United States, dating back to the first wave of Chinese and Japanese immigrants settling on the … Continued
Welcome Aboard, David Herman
Today, we welcome David Herman to our staff as Communications Manager. David is a graphic designer, editor, and photographer, as well as a longtime activist focusing on livable streets, better … Continued
Celebrating the Preservationists of the Greenwich Village Historic District
The Greenwich Village Historic District is one of New York City’s oldest historic districts.
Samuel F.B. Morse: A Brilliant Artist and Inventor With A Complicated, Troubling Legacy
Samuel Finley Breese Morse was an artist, inventor, and would-be-politician. While there was much to admire about his legacy and accomplishments, there was also much to condemn and deplore. Reading … Continued
(Even More) Artists, Theaters, and Advocates for Civil Rights and Social Justice in Our Neighborhoods
Few places in America have made more significant contributions to civil rights and social justice struggles.
Delving into the Past & Future of the Greenwich Village Historic District
The Greenwich Village Historic District, which was designated (landmarked) on April 29, 1969, holds some of the loveliest bits of Greenwich Village within its bounds — from Washington Square to … Continued
A Move To Allow New York City To Save Its Landmarks
On April 6, 1965, the New York City Council approved the bill granting the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission the power to designate and preserve New York City’s landmarks. … Continued
“Amended,” a Podcast Going Deeper on Women’s History
There are many important takeaways from Village Preservation’s 19th Amendment Centennial StoryMap; there are a remarkable number of people and places in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo who … Continued
When the Village was Red: Celebrating the Legacy of the Paris Commune in our Neighborhoods
On March 18, 1871, the Paris Commune began — a three-month-long worker-led insurrection in Paris and experiment in self-governance. On that day, workers, anarchists, communists, and artisans took over the city, and began to re-organize it according … Continued
More Historic Images: The Pryor Dodge Collection
It just never stops growing…Village Preservation’s Historic Image Archive, that is. The latest addition is the Pryor Dodge Collection, a collection taken between 1966 and 1967. They provide a wonderful … Continued
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.
Pioneers Converge on MacDougal Street: Dr. Robert Hogan, Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, and Sarah Smith Garnet
175 MacDougal Street holds far more history than is visible upon first glance.
Small Business, Big History: Celebrating and Advocating
We continue to advocate for small businesses and to add new local independent businesses to our “Small Business/Big History” signage program, in which we are partnering with great local businesses to … Continued
New Image Collections Shows Interiors of One of Our Most Intriguing Houses, and the Village in the 1960s
We’re proud to share the latest additions to our historic image archive, both donated by photographer Pryor Dodge. The first shows the stunning interiors of 52 West 9th Street, the home and … Continued
A Village Song: “Bazooka Joe Don’t Live There Anymore”
The singer-songwriter Gone Marshall recently celebrated a bit of vintage Greenwich Village which might be familiar to you, over on the corner of MacDougal and Houston Street. If you’re thinking fondly … Continued
The Legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois Reverberates Throughout Our Neighborhoods
In 1909, the activist, scholar, educator, writer, editor W.E.B. Du Bois co-founded the NAACP.
Director Miloš Forman’s Life Takes Us from West to East Village, and Back Again
As a young filmmaker and a new New Yorker, the legendary filmmaker Miloš Forman lived in an apartment on Leroy Street in Greenwich Village.
“Save The Village” Face Masks — Support Your Health, Your Community, and Preservation
Now for sale on our website — Village Preservation’s “Save The Village” face coverings, featuring this iconic 1960 image by Fred W. McDarrah of the demolition of a Greenwich Village artist’s studio … Continued
Elizabeth Blackwell’s 200th: The Doctors Blackwell and Their Legacies
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree, which she put to great use when she opened in NoHo the first infirmary run … Continued
The Village Presbyterian Church Helps Gives Birth to an Off-Broadway Spanish Revolution
Our neighborhoods are filled with incredibly rich stories, each door and window a portal into the hidden history of New York City. It is always a surprise to find that, … Continued
Michael E. Levine Oral History: How the Greenwich Village Historic District, SoHo, and Stonewall Happened
Village Preservation shares our oral history collection with the public, highlighting some of the people and stories that make Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo such unique and vibrant … Continued
David Bowie, A Fellow Villager
Born David Robert Jones on January 8th, 1947, the cultural and rock icon David Bowie navigated his way through music, theater, and film like a chameleon. Known for his outlandish … Continued
Butterfly McQueen’s Groundbreaking Performances in the Village and Beyond
Butterfly McQueen — it’s an unusual name, but in many ways perfect for the woman to whom it is attached, as it evokes both flight and royalty. Born in Florida, … Continued
“The Prince of Greenwich Village,” Max Eastman
Around 1907, after recovering from a chronic backache, the 24 year old Max Eastman moved to New York City.
Tea & Sympathy, 108 Greenwich Avenue
If you’ve ever wondered what in the world treacle pudding is, or how one would properly consume marmite, Tea & Sympathy, the British outpost loved by Sarah Jessica Parker, Dame … Continued
Georges Clemenceau, the Dreyfus Affair, and the fight against Anti-Semitism
On December 22, 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Alsatian and Jewish descent, was court-martialed, convicted of treason, and sentenced to life in prison at the … Continued
Make Sure Preservation Has a Future
This has been a year like no other. We lost friends, loved ones, and local small businesses. We had to find new ways to reach our members, the public, and … Continued
2020 Village Preservation Public Programs Roundup
Despite all the challenges of the year, Village Preservation proudly hosted 76 programs (most of which were virtual), reaching over 9,000 people in 2020. How does one choose favorites? It’s … Continued
Small Business Roundtable: Support, Protect, and Shop!
Small businesses have been on everyone’s mind, and it’s no secret that Village Preservation is working hard to support our local small businesses — from our Small Business/Big History campaign, … Continued
Celebrating Our 40th Anniversary – A Strong Start
Village Preservation is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, and in honor of this momentous milestone, we have created an interactive storymap that charts the historic journey of our organization. … Continued
New York School Painter Janice Biala’s “Pendulating Spirit”
Beginning in 1948, the artists William Baziotes, David Hare, Robert Motherwell, and Mark Rothko held a public lecture series entitled Subjects of the Artist. Regularly attracting a crowd of around … Continued
Beyond the Village and Back: The Brotherhood Synagogue, 28 Gramercy Park South
For more than 70 years, The Brotherhood Synagogue, located at 28 Gramercy Park South, has sought to meet the spiritual and cultural needs of its members in a welcoming, progressive community, while working to make religious brotherhood a living reality.
Lenny Bruce Convicted of Obscenity After Greenwich Village Gig
Lenny Bruce pushed buttons. A regular at the clubs in the Village, he was also, arguably, one of the leaders of the counterculture movement in Greenwich Village in the 1960s, … Continued
Margaret Woodrow Wilson: First Lady, Suffragist, and Village Socialite
A remarkable number of people and places in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo played important roles in the move towards women’s suffrage. These neighborhoods were long centers of … Continued
#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
Greenwich Village’s Oldest Church — Originally “in the field”
On October 22, 1820, a group of Greenwich Village residents gathered at the home of Catherine Ritter.
Translation and Transformation: Carl Jung, Beatrice Hinkle, and Greenwich Village Bohemia
Carl Jung (1875-1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist whose ideas about the human unconscious had a profound effect on literature, art, and philosophy. While he was a longtime corresponder and collaborator … Continued
Horror Takes The Village! The Movies and Monsters That Roam The Streets of Our Neighborhoods
Some of the most iconic films in history have used New York City as its backdrop. Sweeping dramas, gut-busting comedies, and action/adventure movies have swung through the streets dozens of … Continued
400 Years of Hispanic History in Our Neighborhoods
Over 2.4 million New Yorkers, or nearly one-third of its population, identify as Hispanic or Latino, including myself. National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) is one of many occasions … Continued
49-51 Fifth Avenue: Trailblazing History Behind a Genteel Facade
One of my favorite things about our neighborhoods is the history that is under our feet and to our side and yet unknown. Case in point is 49-51 Fifth Avenue. … Continued
New Map Shows Most Buildings in NYC ca. 1940
It’s no secret that we are big fans of the New York City Municipal Archives digital collection of all 720,000 of its tax photos of most building in New York … Continued
A Tour of Jewish Historic Sites South of Union Square
The area south of Union Square is the center of an amazing and dynamic collection of histories.
There’s a Buzz About Urban Beekeeping
We at Village Preservation keep tabs on all different types of preservation, including environmental sustainability. So we’ve been really interested to learn about the expanding opportunities in our neighborhoods for … Continued
The Modern Roller Skate, and Men Fighting for Women’s Suffrage — Introduced at the Same East Village Locale
The East Village is renowned as a place of great cultural innovation over the years. But two of the least well-known great leaps forward with roots in the neighborhood — … Continued
Explore Our 19th Amendment Centennial StoryMap
August 18th is the hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment, which prohibited discrimination in voting in the United States based upon sex. It was the culmination of … Continued
Preserving, Adapting, Reusing: Good for Buildings, Good for Clothing, Good for Small Business
We here at Village Preservation are in the business (so to speak) of trying to help ensure historic buildings are preserved and, when necessary, adapted and reused rather than destroyed. … Continued
Mabel Ping-Hua Lee and the Fight for Chinese American and Women’s Rights
On May 4, 1912, ten thousand people marched for women’s suffrage along Fifth Avenue.
The First Global Economic Crisis, and An Easily-Overlooked Greenwich Village House
Today, global economic crises are all too familiar and common. A bad day on Wall Street, or a troubling decision by China or the European Union, can send markets tumbling … Continued
Director Nicholas Ray Bookends His Career in Greenwich Village
Director Nicholas Ray (August 7th, 1911-June 16, 1979) most noted for his celebrated 1955 film Rebel Without A Cause and a string of celebrated and influential (if not always commercially … Continued
Sarah Smith Garnet: Suffragist, Principal, Villager
In the late 1880s, Brooklyn-born Sarah Smith Garnet helped found the Equal Suffrage League, a Brooklyn-based club for Black women, which worked with the Niagara Movement, a predecessor to the … Continued
Renowned Actor Ira Frederick Aldridge Gets His Start at the African Grove Theatre
Ira Frederick Aldridge is today remembered as one of the most renowned actors of the nineteenth century.
Remembering the HIV/AIDS Crisis
We’re in the midst of battling a global pandemic, with a federal government which often seems disinterested at best in addressing the situation and unwilling to take the steps necessary … Continued
Taco Tuesday in Greenwich Village and the East Village
This homesick Texan is always on the lookout for a tasty taco…! And while I may miss my home state on occasion (mostly because I miss the Tex-Mex food!), I … Continued
Echoes of Silence: New American Cinema’s Take On Life in Greenwich Village
In 1965, Village Voice writer Jonas Mekas — founder of the Anthology Film Archive, Village Awardee, and subject of a Village Preservation oral history — wrote: “It is not very … Continued
Paulo d’Angola: the Former Slave Who Became One of Greenwich Village’s First Landowners
In 1626, Paulo d’Angola arrived to New Amsterdam on the first ship bringing enslaved people to this region.
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.
Gettysburg General Daniel E. Sickles’ Complicated Legacy
Civil War Major General Daniel E. Sickles had one of history’s most contentious, strange, and multifarious biographies.
African American, Feminist, & LGBTQ Solidarity at the Women’s House of Detention
The Women’s House of Detention, an eleven-story prison in the center of Greenwich Village, closed on June 13th, 1971.
Uta Hagen: Actor, Teacher, Author, and Human Rights Advocate
Uta Thyra Hagen had one of the longest and most impressive acting careers in American theater.
Westbeth Photographer Shelley Seccombe Documents the Greenwich Village Waterfront Since 1970
Westbeth photographer Shelley Seccombe has been documenting the Greenwich Village waterfront since 1970.
The Animal Rights Movement’s Origins (and still-visible legacy) in Greenwich Village
On the 19th of April in 1860, the New York state legislature passed a bill punishing an act, or omission of an act, that caused pain to animals “unjustifiably.” It … Continued
Robert Hogan: Unsung Hero of Irish New York, and Resident of MacDougal Street
Dr. Robert Hogan, resident of 175 MacDougal Street, started the Irish Emigrant Society in 1841.
2020 Village Awardee: Village Apothecary, 346 Bleecker Street
In 1983, Michael Konnon decided to create a dedicated, independent community pharmacy.
Armand Hammer: Industrialist, Art Collector, Paradoxical Villager
Armand Hammer (May 21, 1898 — December 10, 1990), American industrialist most closely associated with Occidental Petroleum, was born on the Lower East Side to Russian immigrant parents and raised … Continued