Landmarks of New York

205 DeKalb Avenue in Fort Greene was built in the 1860s. In the 1890s it was home to the first Black woman to graduate Medical School in New York State, Dr. Susan McKinney- Stewart.

Rev. Scott was also a professor, creating the department of urban and ethnic studies at City College, and started the first classes on Black, Puerto Rican and Jewish Studies

Trinity Baptist Church on New York Avenue in Crown Heights. Built in 1927, for over 30 years it was lead by the Rev. Osborn Scott. Rev. Scott was the first black man appointed to the staff of the US Army Chaplain School in 1946.

I’d have to imagine quite a few.

Photo 1 is from 2024, Photo 2 is 2011 and Photo 3 is 1940

Three views of the former Fireman’s Hall in SoHo. Built in 1850, it would serve as a meeting place for private fire companies. It would go on to be a firehouse, mosque, performing arts space, Dolce Gabana and now a Dyson store. Its facade was shaved down by the 70s and restored in 2013.

A view of the restoration of 18-20 Christopher Street. The first photo is from 2025 the second from 2021. The buildings were built by Daniel Simpson in 1827 as part of the real estate boom in the village. They were landmarked on 4/29/69

I’ve seen school to home conversions, but never like this. Built in 1911 and previously home to charities and multiple schools 27 Christopher Street was sold in 2014 for $45 million and was gut renovated. Today it boasts 15,000 ft.² of living space. #nychistory #greenwichvillage

The Potter building was constructed in 1886 and designed by Norris Starkweather which is the quite the name. It was designed to be fire proof and was one of the most advanced office buildings of its time and was the HQ of the New York World. It’s co-ops today. Landmarked 9/17/96. #nychistory

59th and 9th is home to the former Syms Operating Theater, one of the first modern surgery facilities in NYC. It would be used for surgeries until 1941, when it became the mortuary and now is home to a private school. It was landmarks on 7/11/89.

Located on President Street near the intersection with Clinton Street, sits the former Hans Christian Memorial Kindergarten. This was the first purpose built Kindergarten in Brooklyn and was a memorial to Hans Christian by his wife Elmira. This was meant to serve the large Norwegian community in BK

If you told me that this was the inspiration for the Addams family house I believe you. It’s actually the Fort Hamilton entrance to Greenwood Cemetery. Built in 1877 and designed by Richard M. Upjohn it’s surprisingly the less impressive gate to the cemetery. #nychistory #brooklyn

This is the former Montauk Paint Company building, which answers the question, where did lead paint come from, and why is the Gowanus Canal still polluted? Built in 1908 it also was home to a sailmaker and artist studio. Surprisingly it is still a location for artists. It was landmarked on 10.29.19

The canal also used to extend to the factory, under 3rd Avenue via 5th Street which you can see here. The factory is in red.

In the 1970s, it became a haven for artists and has been the home of BC Studios. It was landmarked on 10/29/2019.

There’s the Somers Tinware Factory on 3rd and 3rd. Built in 1884, the Somers Brothers were pioneers in decorative tin cans and boxes, printing right on the metal as opposed to having a wrapper. They would operate here until 1901 when they were purchased by the American Can Company.

I was super lucky in 2021 when I took this photo. The building across the street had been torn down so I’ll likely never get a better view. This is the Beekman Hotel. Built as the temple court office building in 1883 for Eugene Kelly, as rags to riches Irish immigrant.

There are a few clues to New York's Dutch past. Despite being built after the surrender of the Dutch to the English is 1660, the Vander Ende- Onderdonk house is one of the few remaining Dutch fieldstone buildings anywhere in the five boroughs. #nyc #ridgewood #nychistory #history

149 Mulberry Street has been home to a cheese factory, library, restaurants, was moved two plots and was built by an 1812 General Stephen Van Rensselaer. It’s still going strong since 1816 and was landmarked on 2/11/69. Oh it was the site of a mob bombing in 1911.

The former American Bank Note company building on Broad Street in Manhattan, it’s like if Sam the Eagle was an architect. Built in 1908, it was one of the first places to print travelers checks. Today it’s office space and used to be a yoga studio. It was landmarked on 6/24/97. #nyc #nychistory

Take those design cues along with the fact that it has remained substantially unaltered over its lifetime, 25 Park Place was landmarked on March 13th, 2007

But what is probably most interesting about this is the design. While it might not look too different from other buildings, architect Samuel Adams Warner took inspiration from Florentine palazzos. Even more unique though is that the windows are inspired by the Farnese Palace in Rome.

The land it was built on was purchased from Trinity Church in 1800, which is one of the reasons why that parish is worth over $8 Billion today. In addition to being a dry goods store, it also served as a home for publishers throughout its long life.

This is 25 Park place, it it was built in 1857 as a dry good store and storage facility for Lathorp, Ludington & Co. It extends from Park Place through the whole block to Murray Street.

I don’t think this building is particularly interesting. It looks like many other buildings in the City Hall/Tribeca area and isn’t even particularly notable from a history perspective. But what this building is, is a time capsule into what everyday life in the mid 1800s would have looked like.