The History of McSorley’s
A Lecture by Historian Bill Wander

McSorley’s Old Ale House survives as a genuine example of a nineteenth century saloon, seemingly unaware of the twenty-first century. An Irish bar in what was once a predominantly German neighborhood, it has been family-owned since it opened its doors in 1854. This lecture, given by author and historian Bill Wander, will discuss how changes to the neighborhood—St Marks Place, Seventh Street, Cooper Square, and the transportation hub that was Astor Place—in the days just before the bar’s establishment shaped this part of the East Village into a location in which McSorley’s could thrive. The lecture will also profile Irish immigrant John McSorley, a young man from the countryside who fled the potato famine and opened an ale house that would become celebrated on the Broadway stage and soar to national reputation. Join us to commemorate the history and legacy of what is considered Manhattan’s oldest saloon in honor of Irish-American Heritage Month.