Join us for a tour filled with Village Pride!

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.

Village Preservation places plaques on sites in our neighborhoods to mark the locations of historically significant events, organizations, places, or figures. Click here to learn more about our plaque program, including upcoming unveiling.

New York has always been a great place to enjoy a pint (or three). A rare class of the city’s taverns date to Prohibition days or earlier, and each carries decades of local history: from the Revolutionary War to the gay rights movement. Starting with the Old Town Bar on 18th Street, take a loop through downtown Manhattan, and pay a visit to the dives that have withstood the test of time.

The original structure was a two-story Federal style frame house, built in 1826 and converted into a tavern in 1864. During Prohibition, by which time a third story and stucco finish had been added, the “Seven Doors” bar continued to operate as a speakeasy. Following the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, the bar was renamed Julius’. During the 1950s, Julius’ became known as a gathering place for gay New Yorkers, despite its management’s harassment of gay customers, under the auspices of liquor regulations prohibiting the sale of alcohol to “disorderly” customers (gay men were considered intrinsically disorderly). In 1966, a group of gay activists and members of the Mattachine society held a “sip-in” to challenge the discriminatory law: after first identifying themselves as homosexuals, they ordered drinks from the Julius’ bartender who then refused service (the New York Times headline read “3 Deviates Invite Exclusion by Bars”). The men successfully challenged the New York State Liquor Authority in court, winning a ruling that guaranteed gay New Yorkers the right to peaceful assembly, thereby opening the door to legal, licensed gay bars.

Photo, left: Ken Lustbader of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, Julius’ owner Helen Buford, Sip-In participant Randy Wicker, author/activist John Cameron Mitchell, Andrew Berman of Village Preservation, and State Senator Brad Hoylman; photo, right: Berman, Wicker, and the plaque.