The Meatpacking District

One tour I've been getting a lot of bookings for lately is a 2+ hour walking tour of Greenwich Village, and the High Line. It's a great tour (contact me for info!). Sandwiched in the middle of this tour is a visit to the historic Meatpacking District.

During the early half of the 20th century, this industrial neighborhood was the hub of New York City's food industry... over 250 slaughterhouses and meatpacking plants were operating there around the turn of the century. The current, popular Chelsea Market was at that time the home of the National Biscuit Company (NaBisCo) and the birthplace of the Oreo cookie. After WWII, the industry, and the neighborhood, fell into sharp decline. This article below from today has some great shots of the area at its most desolate... it's quite a fascinating look back:

'Vintage photos uncover the industrial origins of Meatpacking District locales'

What does this area-- which has experienced one of NYC's most dramatic renaissances-- look like today? I would love to help you discover it.

The Little Chapel That Stood

St. Paul's Chapel on Broadway, directly east of One World Trade Center, is Manhattan's oldest surviving church. It not only survived the Great New York City Fire of 1776 (which destroyed the original, older Trinity Church), but also the collapse of the original World Trade Center in 2001. Its history is rich (George Washington celebrated his Inauguration Day mass there on April 30, 1789) and is integral to tying downtown to its pre-American Revolution roots.

After a large interior restoration project, the church will formally re-open to the public on October 30, for its 250th anniversary. This is a must-see visit.

I offer tours of historic downtown & the World Trade Center area. Coming to NYC this Autumn or Winter? I'd love to show you "the little chapel that stood".