Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Old and New


I've been inspired by the blogs I've seen recently comparing the old and the new, and it made me remember this picture from lower Manhattan. The building in the front corner is the Fraunces Tavern, the oldest surviving building in Manhattan.

Excerpts from the Fraunces Tavern museum website:

As Manhattan's oldest surviving building, 54 Pearl Street has witnessed nearly three centuries of the city's history. It was built in 1719 as an elegant residence for the merchant Stephan Delancey and his family. In 1762, the home was purchased by tavern-keeper Samuel Fraunces, who turned it into one of the most popular taverns of the day. Though it is best known as the site where George Washington gave his farewell address to the officers of the Continental Army, in 1783, the tavern also played a significant role in pre-Revolutionary activities. After the war, when New York was the nation’s first capital, the tavern was rented to the new government to house the offices of the Departments of War, Treasury and Foreign Affairs.

13 comments:

lv2scpbk said...

That looks like a tall building behind the older one. It captures the height.

Olivier said...

The Fraunces Tavern c'est l'histoire de NYC (et de l'amerique). j'aime beaucoup cette partie de NYC (remarque je crois que j'aime tout dans NYC ;o) ), avec ces petites rues, tres sombres, et pourtant je me perds regulierement dans cette partie ;o)

The Fraunces Tavern it is the history of NYC (and of America). I like much this part of NYC (notice I believe that I like all in NYC ;O)), with these small streets, very dark, and yet I lose myself regularly in this part ;O)

Nazzareno said...

Really beatiful house.I like the contrast between the old and new in your photograph.:)

John Roberts said...

Very nice contrast of the old and the new. I love these kinds of photos, and I'm glad when cities preserve these old, historical buildings. But shame on whoever let someone put a window AC in that beautiful building.

Gudl said...

Very interesting and good looking!
Great Shot!

Ming the Merciless said...

Cool history lesson, Lori.

Bergson said...

The various styles mix more and more.

We have a place with glass opposite the castle

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

the old and new coexisting together ....is fascinating though i love the old ones so much more than the newer ones...

Unknown said...

this old building, does it still have the original stuff inside? or it has been fully renovated inside to be modern?

most buildings in singapore that are being conserve has the old original facade outside, but right inside, it is super modern!

Lori said...

Keropok man, I don't know what it looks like inside. I've never gone in. It's a museum though so I guess it is somewhat preserved. I'm curious to see it.

Unknown said...

Very interesting history on that old Travern there.

GMG said...

Somewhere around 1991/92 I had lunch at the Tavern; an amazing experience...

JAM said...

I like this one too. I have a picture of an old church in downtown Houston, Texas that I took many years ago for that very reason. This old, almost gothic lookin' church against the glassy, futuristic windows of the skyscrapers'.