THE SIDE STREETS’ PRESIDENTIAL PAST

From Washington to Wilson and so many in between, it seems our nation’s presidents were frequenters of the Side Streets too! This Presidents’ Day, we celebrate the rich history of Manhattan.

McSorley’s Old Ale House, 7th Street

Since it opened in 1854, McSorley’s has sold only its own brew. There is no other way to visit this bar than to buy a pair of ales, a family recipe of light or dark, maybe a cheese plate (complete with onions and crackers) or a burger, and just take it all in. Everything on the walls has remained the same since 1910, and there is even a chair from 1859 that Abraham Lincoln sat in when he stopped by for a drink. Read more >>

14th Street

Union Square, and its surrounding area, has its own history that dates back to the early 1800′s. It includes a statue of George Washington placed here in 1865 and it is where, 136 years later, people gathered from all parts of the city to find comfort and sit vigil following 9/11. Read more >>

36th and 37th Streets

Eleanor Roosevelt was born in her parent’s home in 1884 at 56 West 37th Street and then, at the age of seven, moved to 11 West on the same street to live with her grandparents after her mother passed away. She remained there until she married Franklin Roosevelt in 1905 and they moved to 125 East 36th Street. Read more >>

Hardings, 21 Street

The owners of this patriotic restaurant and bar chose to name it after our 29th president, Warren G. Harding. The entire space — bathrooms included — are a tribute to American history. An American flag that dates back to the late 1800s hangs impressively from the exposed white brick side wall, and a trip to the restroom leaves one lost in old, authentic newspaper clippings. Read more >>

National Arts Club, 20th Street

The National Arts Club has been promoting American artists and educating the public about the arts and art criticism since its founding in 1898. The National Arts Club was a pioneer in showing multiple types of art in the same space and for bringing artistic mediums other than painting and sculpture to the cultural forefront. Membership with the Club has also included Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Dwight Eisenhower. Read more >>

New York City Marble Cemetery, 2nd Street

This burial ground features custom gravestones and is the resting place of many prominent New Yorkers. Interestingly, President James Monroe was one of the first to be laid to rest here in 1831. Read more >>