Cooper Union
Why it's listed
Cooper Union is a five-story brownstone and brick Italianate building, later expanded to six main floors, at Cooper Square in Manhattan. Completed in 1858 to designs by F.A. Peterson, it was created by the industrialist Peter Cooper as a free school for working people of New York. Its construction used rolled iron I-beams from Cooper's Trenton ironworks, supporting brick arches, along with cast iron columns, a circular elevator shaft and a fan-forced ventilation system. Night courses, a design school for women, and a large public library drew thousands of people weekly. The basement Great Hall became a leading public forum, where Abraham Lincoln spoke in February 1860 in an address he later credited with winning him the presidency. Susan B. Anthony, Horace Greeley, Mark Twain and Ulysses S. Grant also spoke there. A renovation beginning in 1972, led by John Hejduk, rebuilt the south end while keeping the elevator shaft. The building remains on its original site and continues as a school.
Significance in brief: It realized Peter Cooper's plan for a free school to improve the working classes of New York, and is described as a pioneer landmark in private support of public education. Its Great Hall hosted major public figures, including Abraham Lincoln's February 1860 speech that helped win him the presidency. The building also contained innovations such as rolled iron I-beams, a circular elevator shaft and mechanical ventilation.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000540, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cooper Square, 7th St., and 4th Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000540 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architect / builder | F.A. Peterson |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 4, 1961 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used for its original educational purpose at its original site; the interior was renovated from 1972, with classes resuming in September 1974, and part of the school is no longer housed in the building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | The Bowery Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.72937, -73.99047 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000540.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q130981
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.