7. St. Paul’s Chapel is the Oldest Surviving Church Building in Manhattan

Built in 1766, St. Paul’s Chapel was erected before the United States of America was in fact, the United States of America. For the first decade of its life, the chapel (along with the rest of the United States) was technically the property of King George III.

According to eighteenth century historian and preservation expert, Charles Frederick Wingate, St. Paul’s is also the only “house of worship standing on its original site.” This fact, along with its uninterrupted continuity in serving its original purpose, was celebrated last year with an event-filled 250th anniversary celebration.