The Charlton King Van Dam Historic District & Environs Walking Tour

The walking tour focuses on the history and architecture of, The Charlton, King, Van Dam Historic District
& some of the surrounding neighborhood and includes interesting pictures and stories that join us with both neighborhoods' past.

This Walking Tour of Manhattan's Past and Present Features:

A walk starting at the landmark Ear Inn, the site of Richmond Hill, through the Charlton King Van Dam Historic District
ending up in a neighborhood between The Charlton King Van Dam Historic District and the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District.
Once there was a middle income artisan community with hundreds of 1 family (2 story) Federal styled homes that spread across both neighborhoods
we will see a number of these survivors from the 19th century along with 14 stops that include 7 New York City Landmarks and 5 National Landmarks.

Both neighborhoods and all stops are fully discussed.

Some Of This Tours Highlights Are:

The Ear Inn
New York Fire Museum
Aron Burr and Richmond Hill
A landmark (broken) row of Federal style homes from the 1820's on Van Dam St.
Find out about the Huron Club, what it was originally at the turn of last century and who were the famous / infamous men connected to it.
A landmark row of Federal homes from 1820's on Charlton St. and the house that Edna Saint Vincent Milay lived in after she had her first book of poetry publised
A landmark row of Greek Revival homes from the 1840's on King St. - the house where writer, critic, James Agee lived until his death and the site where Aaron Burr hid after his duel with Alexander Hamilton
Landmark examples of "The Architecture of Good Breeding"
St. Anthony of Pauda & a Italian - American community that predates Little Italy
Find out about: Big Tim Sullivan and much more.

About 2 Hours Long

Meet directly across the street from 326 Spring St. (The Ear Inn)

Guided by Alfred Pommer an informative native New Yorker, college graduate and a Licensed New York City guide
who has spent over 20 years researching, creating and leading walking tours in Manhattan's many diverse neighborhoods.

Interested in a Private Walking Tour" ?
Call: (212) 979-2388 for details www.nycwalk.com
Or : Click Here for advance ticket sales

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The So-Ho Cast Iron Historic District Walking Tour
Architecture -- History -- Interesting Pictures and Stories

A Walking Tour of the Present and the Past

The walking tour focuses on the history and architecture of So-Ho including interesting pictures and stories that join us with the neighborhoods' past.
And its evolution from a middle income artisian neighborhood, with the mansions of wealthy New Yorkers on Broadway;
to an industrial district of warehouses and factories, with upscale hotels and department stores on Broadway;
into an artistic community of artist in residence and gallerie; and
finally into an upscale retail neighborhood mixed with art galleries, artist and expensive residential lofts.

This Walking Tour of So-Ho's Past and Present Features:

A walk through the Cast Iron Historic District of So-Ho .
In the early 19th century SoHo was part of a middle income artisan community with hundreds of 1 family (2 story) Federal styled homes
that spread across the neighborhood that is now SoHo - we will see surviving landmark example of one of the homes from 1825 and much more

For the 2½ hour tour each participant receives an itinerary with 18 stops that include 4 New York City and 2 national landmarks
For the 3½ hour tour each participant receives an itinerary with 23 stops that include 4 New York City and 2 national landmarks
All stops are fully discussed. Highlights of the 2½ Hour Tour::

The Puck Bulding
The site of Niblos' Garden where big time Broadway shows started
An industrial cast iron building from 1877 turned residential (Co-op)
The site of Lord & Taylor's Dept. Store and a picture of it.
Two cast Iron buildings designed by Richard Morris Hunt
The best Italianate Style Cast Iron Building in So-Ho, the Haughwout Bldg. where Mary Todd Lincoln did her shopping
Bill Gates on Mercer St.
What is a cast iron building?
The New Era Bldg. an early example of the Art Nouveau style
What is So-Ho's Loft Law about?
See the building Houdini worked in as a teenager
The Charles Broadway Rouse Bldg and his story
Green Street has the highest concentration of cast iron buildings in America
The "Statue of Liberty" was here"
the site of John J. Astor's mansion where he died
See the Little Singer Building - a small version of the (demolished) larger famous "Singer Tower"Evolution: Natural History in SoHo and Donald Judd
The 3rd oldest bar in New York City and a hangout of the artist during the 1960's, 70's and 80's
New York City's Subway Map embedded in the sidewalk.
The architectural King of Green Street
The Gunther Building a nice 2nd Empire style on a cast iron building
originally Fireman's Hall from 1845, now a parking garage
The longest running landmark renovation in New York
The Ghost of So-Ho and more

Highlights Included in the 3½ Hour Tour::

the architectural Queen of Green Street
A beautiful "Grand Romanesque" style masonry building, best architecture in SoHo
a Federal style house from 1825 now a restaurant / bar since mid 19th century
Originally: Engine Co. 13, New York City Fire Dept. 1881 now a gallery
optional: see the “New York Earth Room” exhibit at the Dia Center for the Arts

About 2½ hours long or a 3½ hour version

Meet at the Southwest Corner of Lafayette and Houston Street
#6 trains to Bleecker St. or N, R to Prince St. or F to Lafayette St.

Guided by Alfred Pommer an informative native New Yorker, a college graduate and a Licensed New York City guide
who has spent over 20 years researching, creating and leadinf walking tours in Manhattan's many diverse neighborhoods.