Last updated: February 25, 2022
Place
Christopher Park
Quick Facts
Location:
New York City, Greenwich Village.
Significance:
The park viewed the events of the Stonewall uprising and riots in June of 1969.
Designation:
Designated by presidential proclamation in 2016.
Amenities
8 listed
Accessible Sites, Benches/Seating, Cellular Signal, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Pets Allowed, Public Transit, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Wheelchair Accessible
Stonewall National Monument is a 7.7 acre site in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City established by presidential proclamation in 2016. The monument encompasses both public and private property, including the privately owned Stonewall Inn, portion of the New York City street network, and 0.12-acre Christopher Park, which was donated to the federal government by the City of New York. Viewed from Christopher Park's central location, this historic landscape - the park itself, the Stonewall Inn, the streets and sidewalks of the surrounding neighborhood -- reveals the story of the Stonewall uprising, a watershed moment for LGBTQ+ rights and a transformative event in the nation's civil rights movement.
As one of the only public open spaces serving Greenwich Village west of 6th Avenue, Christopher Park has long been central to the life of the neighborhood and to its identity as an LGBTQ+ friendly community. The park was created in 1837 after a large fire in 1835 devastated an overcrowded tenement on the site. By the 1960s, Christopher Park was a destination for LGBTQ+ youth, many of whom has run away from or been kicked out of their homes. Christopher Park served as a gathering place, refuge, and platform to voice demands for LGBTQ+ civil rights. Christopher Park continues to be an important place for the LGBTQ+ community to assemble for marches and parades, including the annual NYC Pride; expressions of grief and anger; and celebrations of victory and joy.
As one of the only public open spaces serving Greenwich Village west of 6th Avenue, Christopher Park has long been central to the life of the neighborhood and to its identity as an LGBTQ+ friendly community. The park was created in 1837 after a large fire in 1835 devastated an overcrowded tenement on the site. By the 1960s, Christopher Park was a destination for LGBTQ+ youth, many of whom has run away from or been kicked out of their homes. Christopher Park served as a gathering place, refuge, and platform to voice demands for LGBTQ+ civil rights. Christopher Park continues to be an important place for the LGBTQ+ community to assemble for marches and parades, including the annual NYC Pride; expressions of grief and anger; and celebrations of victory and joy.