The Green District

January 7, 2024January 7, 2024 by Jessica In New York City, USA Leave a comment

What is known today as the “West Village” in New York City became known as such in the 1950s and 1960s, when developers wished to demolish historic buildings in the area, but local residents and preservationists succeeded in keeping this portion of Greenwich Village intact. As such, the area has remained integral for a long time, with a historic district established by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, which further restricts development, requiring any remodeling to preserve the main façade and aesthetics of the buildings.

The name of Greenwich Village comes from the Dutch word Groenwijck, which means “Green District.” In the 20th century, the area was known for being an artists’ haven, the cradle of the LGBTQ+ movement, and the East Coast birthplace of the Beat Generation and the counterculture of the 1960s. It holds Washington Park, as well as the campuses of New York University and The New School, and it also hosts the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, which is the world’s largest Halloween parade (and still on my list).

Stonewall Inn

Often known simply as Stonewall, the Stonewall Inn is a gay bar in Greenwich Village and the site of the Stonewall Riots of 1969, which is often cited as one of the most important events in the history of LGTBQ+ rights in the United States. The bar currently on site is not the original one — this went out of business shortly after the uprising, and the building changed hands over the years until the 1990s, when a newly established bar changed its name back to Stonewall.

Stonewall National Monument

This is the first U.S. monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights and history. It was designated as such by President Barack Obama in 2016, just two weeks after the shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which added to the monument’s importance. It is located in Christopher Street Park, which first opened in 1837.

The monument covers an area of 7.7 acres, including Stonewall Inn, the Christopher Street Park, as well as the block of Christopher Street bordering the park and segments of nearby streets. In October 2017, a rainbow flag was raised on the site, making it the first officially maintained LGBTQ+ flag at a federal monument.