 Douglaston Hill is adjacent to the Douglaston district which was designated seven years prior. Contains 31 single family homes of historic significance. Architectural styles: Queen Anne, Shingle, Arts and Crafts, and Colonial and Tudor Revival. Materials: Examples of wood-framing, among others. 

Douglaston Hill Historic District and Amendment

 Greenwich Village was populated as a village soon after the American Revolution. The street layout has seen little change since then, as the neighborhood was left unaltered during the imposition of the Commissioner's Grid on Manhattan in 1811. The area has a rich history as the East Coast birthplace of the Beat Movement, and is famously known as a haven for artists and bohemians. Known colloquially as "The Village", the area retains much of its historic character and purpose as a primarily residential and commercial-based neighborhood to this day. Architectural Styles: Rowhouses in the Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, French Second Empire, Neo-Grec and Queen Anne styles. TIP - Check out the Jefferson Market Library, formerly a courthouse, at 425 6th Avenue. The building is an interesting case of adaptive reuse and key site for the preservation movement in Greenwich Village. 

Greenwich Village Historic District

An African Burial Ground was established in 1690, eventually containing 15000 graves of free and enslaved Africans; it was rediscovered in 1991 when construction was beginning on the Federal Building.Historians estimate there may have been as many as 10,000&ndash;20,000 burials in what was called the "Negroes Burial Ground" in the 1700s. In 1794 2nd African Burial Ground replaced the first African Burial Ground after original ground was decommissioned by the Common Council. In 2010 African Burial Ground National Monument Rodney Leon's winning competition entry design was dedicated as the African Burial Ground National Monument.The current site of the African Burial Ground consists of the outdoor monument, adjacent to the Ted Weiss Federal Building at 290 Broadway, which holds an interpretive center on the first floor for the burial ground. The center features 5 public artworks commissioned and funded by the General Services Administration. "Unearthed" by Frank Bender, sculptor and forensic artist, is a bronze sculpture inspired by three of the individuals removed from the burial ground. "America Song" by Clyde Lynds is a sculpture composed of granite, concrete and fiber optics, and features an Indian headdress and feathers. At night, the sculpture is illuminated by the fiber optics.

 Wall of Remembrance, Ancestral Pillars, Memorial Wall, Ancestral Chamber, Circle of Diaspora, Spiral Procession Ramp, and Ancestral Libation Court.  

As one happens by the north wall facing Duane Street you are immediately struck by the scale and detail of a highly polished wall of granite inscribed with following libation text. For all those who were lost For all those who were stolen For all those who were left behind For all those who were not forgotten 

A path extends itself north to south from Duane Street. Along this path are seven burial mounds marking the locations of the seven large sarcophagi containing the remains of the 419 African descendants that were re-interred in October of 2003. In addition, a grove of seven trees create a natural buffer and shelter between the re-interment zone and adjacent building. The burial mounds serve as markers and the trees as guardians for the entrance to the Libation Chamber. It is appropriate to place flowers and other offerings along the path in front of the burial mounds.

 The Southern wall of the Libation Chamber shall be engraved with a map containing images and text describing the components of the African Burial Ground National Monument site in context of the burial ground's actual boundaries in lower Manhattan. This map will allow people to understand the extent and scope of the burial ground's actual size which extends significantly beyond the boundaries of the memorial site.&amp;nbsp;  

 Intended to reflect African cultural, spiritual and ancestral essence. This spiritual form rises out of the ground like an ancestral pillar and represents the soaring African spirit embracing and comforting all those who enter. The Ancestral Chamber is oriented towards the east and open to the sky above, allowing natural light to penetrate and illuminate the interior space. The interior of the Ancestral Chamber provides a sacred space for individual contemplation, reflection, meditation and prayer.  

 Signs, symbols and images of the African Diaspora are engraved around the perimeter wall encircling the Libation Court. These symbols come from different areas and cultures throughout the Diaspora, especially Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Symbolic meaning is described below the image. As one circumambulates around the perimeter of the court and spirals down the processional ramp, these symbols present themselves as a reminder of the complexity and diversity of African culture's manifestation. They all come together to form a communal place and a reminder of the Burial Ground being an international center of gathering.&amp;nbsp;  

 The Spiral Processional Ramp descends down 4' below street level thereby bringing the visitor physically, psychologically and spiritually closer to the ancestors and original interment level. The ramp and stairs serve as bridges between the living and the spiritual realm. They symbolize the process of transcendence from physical to spiritual and passage from profane to sacred. The process will evolve from the public "secular" space of the city to the spiritual space of the Libation Court and culminate in the sacred space of the Ancestral Chamber.&amp;nbsp;  

The Ancestral Libation Court is situated on axis with the Ancestral Chamber. It is located 4' below street level, providing a physical and psychological separation from the public activity of the surrounding urban environment. The Libation Court is a communal gathering place where small to medium-scale public cultural ceremonies may occur. This spiritual space is where reconsecration of the African Burial Ground National Monument will continually take place during the libation or other ceremonial rituals. The sacred ceremonial ritual of "libation" is the act which will serve as an offering and an acknowledgement linking past, present and future generations in the spirit of Sankofa {An Adinkra symbol of West Africa meaning 'learn from the past').&amp;nbsp;  

Includes text, location map, and color illustrations, part of an early map showing "Negro Burial Ground", small outline map of Africa 

African Burial Ground National Monument

Architectural historian Gail Cornell talks about the history of Foley Square and the African Burial Ground.

There was a battery in the area during the 1600's, but the battery wall found at the South Ferry Terminal Project was likely built sometime after 1730, but before 1766. It was demolished after the Revolutionary War and buried with fill to create Battery Park.&nbsp;

During the excavation of the South Ferry subway station, over 250,000 individual artifacts and the 18th-century stone battery wall were found. The most widely publicized finding at the South Ferry Project is the "wall". It was part of the battery that protected the fort and also acted as a seawall made of stone. The battery would have had cannon mounted along it to fire at enemy ships. Four different sections of the battery wall have been found, spanning a distance of almost 600 feet. It ranges from about 8 to 10 feet wide. The largest section is about 75 feet long and up to four feet high, although it would have been much higher when it was built. &nbsp;Parts of the wall are on display in the Park and the new South Ferry Subway Station.

exposed beneath modern utility lines during the South Ferry Terminal Project in 2005. This segment was nearly 40 feet long.

It was probably part of a bastion that projected outwards towards the water where artillery could have been fired in several directions.

Engraver: John CarwithamPublisher: Carington BowlesArtist: William Burgis

Battery Wall

Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. first organized a preservation committee in 1961, and the following year, created the LPC.&nbsp;

The LPC's power was greatly strengthened after the Landmarks Law was passed in April 1965, one and a half years after the destruction of Pennsylvania Station.&nbsp;

The LPC has become the largest municipal preservation organization in the nation.&nbsp;

This Plan of the City of New York was made for the purpose of showing the progress and extent of the Great Fire which happened in the year 1776 the number of houses that was consumed. And also the Fire of 1778. Map. New York, 1863.

“Looking aft, southward over the site, with the ship’s staunch bow coming at you. Three walls were left athwart the ship to keep the sides of the excavation from caving in upon the crew at their work.”Photo by Carl Forster

NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

Founded by Mayor Robert Wagner in response to citywide outcry over the destruction of Penn Station.

It was included on the first list of proposed landmarks. &nbsp;

NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

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