5. It Was the Site Of the First Labor Day Parade

First-Labor-Day-Parade-Sketch-Union-Square-New-York-September-5-1882A sketch from 1882 showing the first Labor Day Parade congregating at Union Square. Image source: Wikipedia Commons

Another important gathering that occurred at Union Square was the very first Labor Day parade in U.S. history. This was in 1882, and celebrated American workers with a picnic, concert and speeches. During this time, 10,000 workers marched from City Hall to Union Square, taking unpaid time off work to do so.

The very first Labor Day was held on a Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. The day was celebrated with a picnic, concert and speeches. Ten thousand workers marched in a parade from City Hall to Union Square.

In fact, Union Square played such an important role in American history that the U.S. Department of the Interior made Union Square Park a National Historic Landmark because of its significance in U.S. history.