Shaping Our City: Row House to Warehouse

With the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, the Hudson River became a major transit route, connecting Manhattan to the Great Lakes. Matt Postal will examine Tribeca and SoHo’s residential origins and the impact that various types of manufacturing had on these areas from the mid-19th century forward. Impressive stone, brick, and iron facades in varied architectural styles will be viewed and admired, paying particular attention to how these mercantile structures have been used and adapted to new uses. Highlights include Manhattan’s second public park, the former New York Mercantile Exchange, a complex of robust refrigeration buildings, and the Haughwout Building, where Otis installed the first passenger elevator.