The Statue of Liberty, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building….been there, done that, and still want more? Check out these other gems on your next visit.
The Asch Building / Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (Corner of Greene Street and Washington Place, Greenwich Village)
The present-day law building of New York University is the former Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, the most notorious sweatshop of its day. On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out and engulfed the building’s eighth, ninth, and tenth floors, trapping many of the factory’s mostly female workers inside. Many tried to escape, only to find that the doors had been locked from the outside. Some of the girls jumped to their deaths as a horrified crowd watched below. Those trapped inside suffocated from the smoke or were crushed as they tried to escape through the locked doors. Of the approximately 600 garment workers in the building that day, 146 died. After the fire, the New York State Legislature adopted a stricter labor code. It was the single most tragic workplace event in New York City’s history until September 11, 2001.
Flatiron Building (23rd St., between Broadway and Fifth Avenues)
An structural as well as historical landmark, the Flatiron Building was designed by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham in 1902 and is considered to be the first skyscraper in New York. Its shape is so unusual because of the limited space Burnham had to work with when designing it—the building was specifically built for that oddly-shaped plot of land. The building is one of the most beloved and famous in the city.
Hotel Chelsea (222 W. 23rd St., between 7th and 8th Avenues)
This famous hotel has boasted the likes of Janis Joplin, William S. Burroughs, Dylan Thomas, Jimi Hendrix, O. Henry, and Joni Mitchell (who wrote her song “Chelsea Morning” here) as guests. The hotel has always been a haven for the artsy, folksy, creative types, and many people stay here just to experience a bit of the hotel’s colorful history.
South Street Seaport (12 Fulton St., between Front and South Sts.)
Those interested in New York’s seafaring past will enjoy walking the port’s cobblestone streets, touring the huge sailing vessels docked here, or walking through the Seaport’s museum. The famous Brooklyn Bridge is also visible from the eastern side of the port. Check out the impressive photos at Chelsea Piers (between 23rd and 19th Sts. at the Hudson River) for even more of New York’s nautical history, including shots of immigrants newly arrived in America, soldiers returning home from World War II, and more recent views of ferry boats transporting commuters to Brooklyn and New Jersey on September 11, 2001. The Titanic was scheduled to dock at the piers, and the complex is famous for its many indoor sports and recreational facilities.
Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel (74 Trinity Place, Financial District)
A cemetery in the heart of New York City? You’ll find it here. This church dates back to 1846, with the adjacent St. Paul’s chapel, the oldest building in Manhattan, dating back to 1766. A number of prominent historical figures are buried in the churchyard, including Alexander Hamilton and William Bradford. The church holds regular worship services and is home to a special exhibit commemorating the former World Trade Center site, located nearby.
