While their significance is often underestimated or dismissed by heterosexual society, bars and other establishments played a pivotal role throughout the 20th century — but particularly in the pre-Stonewall era — as centers for LGBT activism and community. These spaces, whether always gay friendly or only during certain times of the day or week, gave LGBT people the freedom to be themselves in a way they usually could not be in their personal or professional lives. This curated collection largely reflects the bar and nightlife scene of downtown Manhattan; as we research more sites we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions in upper Manhattan and the outer boroughs.

127, 129, 131 MacDougal Street Houses ARCHITECT: Unknown DATE: 1828-29 STYLE: Federal These three buildings were constructed in the Federal style, characterized by its 2-1/2-story height, Flemish bond brickwork, low stoop with wrought-ironwork, entrance with Ionic columns, entablature and transom, molded lintels with end blocks, peaked roof, molded cornice, and pedimented double dormers.

Eve Addams Tea Room, 129 MacDougal Street ca. 1933 In 1925, Eve Kotchever (better known by her pseudonym, Eve Addams) opened her tearoom here at 129 MacDougal Street. She was a Polish-Jewish lesbian immigrant known as the "queen of the third sex" and "man-hater" and supported this opinion with a sign on the door of her establishment that read "Men are admitted but not welcome". The Greenwich Village Quill called the tearoom a place where 'ladies prefer each other". On June 17, 1926, the club was raided by police and Addams was charged with disorderly conduct and with obscenity for her collection of short stories, Lesbian Love. She was deported and was later said to have opened a lesbian club in Paris.