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Photo from United Palace

From lavish theaters to modern museums, New York City’s wonderfully diverse buildings boast a colorful, and oftentimes, surprising history. In fact, the “built environment,” according to Open House New York (OHNY) executive director Gregory Wessner, is often a direct reflection of the community that occupies it and the people that have helped to shape the city.

This year, in celebration of the New York City’s many enthralling architectural spaces, Open House New York (OHNY) and ARTNOIR are coming together to present ARTNOIR: City of Cultural Exchange during the 14th Annual OHNY Weekend on Oct. 15-16. The program will focus on ten unique sites across the city, which have served as catalysts for cultural exchange and conversation.

Here’s what you need to know about each building before OHNY Weekend begins and as a reminder, all of these are open access sites so you don’t need reservations.

1. United Palace

The United Palace first opened its doors in 1930 as one of the five Loews Wonder Palaces. Back then, it functioned as a vaudeville house and movie theater until preacher Rev. Ike purchased and restored the property. In honoring his legacy, the Palace now houses the United Palace House of Inspiration (UPHI) as well as the United Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA), a nonprofit arts and cultural center that hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Its theater, with close to 3,400 seats, is the fourth largest in Manhattan.

TOUR INFO: The Palace’s public spaces, including the main theatre, foyer, and mezzanine, will all be open to visitors.