Stonewall
Why it's listed
Stonewall is a several-block area of Greenwich Village in Manhattan centered on the former Stonewall Inn at 51-53 Christopher Street and the triangular Christopher Park across the street. The inn occupies a two-story building begun around 1843-1846 as two separate stables, joined in 1930 for restaurant use behind a new brick and stucco facade that survives. In the late 1960s it operated as a gay bar. Police raided it around 1:30 a.m. on June 28, 1969, and the patrons and a growing crowd resisted instead of dispersing. Street confrontations continued over several evenings, ending on July 2 and 3, and at their peak drew several thousand people. The nomination presents these events as the catalyst for the modern gay rights movement, followed by new activist groups, commemorative marches, and international recognition. Christopher Park holds George Segal's sculpture Gay Liberation, installed in 1992. The bar space today still echoes the inn's two-room layout.
Significance in brief: The site is nationally significant for its association with the Stonewall uprising of June 28 to July 3, 1969, which began when police raided the gay bar and the crowd fought back. The nomination describes it as the major catalyst for the modern gay and lesbian rights movement. It argues the site meets the exceptional-significance standard because its importance was recognized almost immediately, has been widely studied, and is acknowledged internationally.
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 99000562, listed May 27, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Greenwich Ave., Seventh Ave., Washington St., and Sixth Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | May 27, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000562 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | June 28, 1969 - July 3, 1969 |
| Architectural style | no style |
| Criteria |
|
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated February 16, 2000 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1930 facade remains intact. The building now holds two commercial enterprises, including a bar called the Stonewall in the western section. Christopher Park keeps its 1969 configuration. |
| Within district | Greenwich Village Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 40.73378, -74.00169 (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 99000562.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1261362
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.