Join Us on the Search to Decode and Decipher the Unbelievably Rich, Inordinately Complex History of New York City on the Island of Manhattan.
"No other city is so spitefully incoherent." --James Baldwin, writer and activist
The Viele Map
PLEASE BEAR WITH US DURING A WEBSITE UPGRADE AND BLOG RE-LAUNCH
Manhattan Unlocked Historical and Architectural Walking Tours
Discover hidden-in-plain-sight history and decode the streetscapes of Manhattan on our multi-faceted walking tours where history and architecture meld. Manhattan Unlocked answers the question every New Yorker has asked, "why is this building next to that building, and that building next to this building?" We take that question to its logical conclusion and let the built environment--the city itself--tell its own story!
We realized there's more to the million-and-one things to be seen on the surface of the city today. Manhattan Unlocked takes into account ancient geography and historic transit, in addition to commerce, architecture, immigration and everything else, to explain the city's growth and development. In fact, New York City can only be understood from an all-of-history, holistic point of view.
About Us
Manhattan Unlocked began as a blog over a decade ago to decode and make sense of the streetwalls of the city. What most people consider New York City is an architectural complex and constellation of neighborhoods stretching almost 5 miles from the Battery to Central Park through the island's core. Yet, what looks like a jumble of buildings on any given block (we realized long ago) couldn't be random. There had to be a logic to the blocks; patterns to the neighborhoods. Neighborhoods comprising cast iron buildings or skyscrapers had to be part of some overarching narrative. There had to be a way that Tribeca and Museum Mile were part of the same story.
We soon realized that in the search for "unified theory" behind New York's instantly recognizable, yet enigmatic streetscape, we needed to hit the pavement so to speak. Manhattan Unlocked Historical and Architectural Walking Tours was born (thank you Viator and TripAdvisor, but now bookings can be made directly!). The blog had been put on hiatus, but we hope to begin updating again soon, and with a new look! Join us on a walking tour, and we look forward to uploading new and interesting posts soon.
Thanks for visiting!!!
To see details and book a walking tour click the big blue button below. Check out our TripAdvisor reviews! But you'll save a few dollars by clicking below.
- Midtown Manhattan Art and Architecture Walking Tour
- Holdouts! Based on the Book by Alpern & Durst
- Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York
- Tenement Housing and Immigrant Life: A Lower East Side Story (starts May 15, 2024)
- Explore the Ruins of a Forgotten City in the Middle of Manhattan (starts May 29, 2024)
Midtown East, Grand Central & Rockefeller Center
Astor Place, NoHo, SoHo, Chinatown & the Civic Center (Foley Square)
Foley Square, Chinatown & The Lower East Side
Madison Square, Nomad, the Flatiron District & Chelsea
The old blog remains below....(sorry any shortcomings in our early years of research).
When was that converted into a hotel? Was that an office building before? Otherwise how could a corporation operate out of a hotel?
ReplyDeleteI couldn't find out much online about the history of the building, so I called the hotel directly and you are exactly right. They informed me the hotel took over the space in 1998, and before that it was an office building. Thanks so much for reading!
ReplyDeleteNice post. I saw Pawn Stars as well. I'm working across the street from this building.
ReplyDeleteFunny That there is another for sale for $2499.00. Rick got his for $500.00. See for yourself http://www.historyforsale.com/html/prodetails.asp?bw=1&documentid=283128
ReplyDeleteManhattan Boys
ReplyDeleteThat's a great post and people may not be aware of this address fact and its original location. deals for cheap park and fly
ReplyDeletethanks
ReplyDelete