In June 2015, the Stonewall Inn was designated an individual New York City landmark within the historic district of Greenwich Village. The designation was particularly notable from a social and historical perspective since it was generally acknowledged that the site was not architecturally or aesthetically distinguished – a clear gesture to landmark the history behind the building. Since the designation of Stonewall, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has designated many other LGBTQ+ landmarks for their historical significance. In honor of Pride Month, we highlight 10 LGBTQ+ landmarks in New York City in the list below!
1. Julius’
Julius’ Bar, a few blocks away from the Stonewall Inn, identifies itself as the oldest gay bar in New York, though it hasn’t always been a haven for gay people. In 1966 activists staged a “sip-in” to protest harassment from bartenders and their refusal to serve homosexuals. The protest effectively established gay bars in New York.
Governor Andrew Cuomo recommended Julius’ be added to the State and National Register for Historic Places in 2016. Julius’ historical significance to the LGBTQ+ was not mentioned in the Greenwich Village Historic District designation, which was adopted a few months before the Stonewall Riots. In December 2022, Julis’ Bar, which is one of the oldest bars in Greenwich Village, became one of the newest LGBTQ+ landmarks in New York City when it was officially designated as an individual landmark.