Once a haven for wealthy shoppers Ladies Mile Historic District in Manhattan now stands as a testament to Gilded Age opulence.
Ladies Mile wasn’t always a shopping mecca. Initially a residential area with rows of brownstone townhouses it transformed in the 1860s. Department stores replaced the homes. The architectural style shifted dramatically. Beaux-Arts Neo-Renaissance Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne styles became prominent. Cast iron a cheap and versatile material played a crucial role in creating extravagant decorations on many buildings.
Arnold Constable’s 1868 adoption of cast iron set a trend. Others quickly followed suit. The area’s rise to prominence began in 1860 when the Prince of Wales stayed at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. This signaled to New York’s high society that the neighborhood was fit for royalty. Between the Civil War and World War I Ladies Mile housed some of New York’s most exclusive department stores. B Altman Best & Co Arnold Constable Bergdorf Goodman Gorham Silver and Tiffany & Co all had a presence here. Upscale restaurants bookstores publishers and even piano manufacturers’ showrooms thrived in the district. The Academy of Music Steinway Hall and the first Metropolitan Museum of Art location were also here.
The district’s safety was a key attraction. Women could shop unaccompanied. Ethel Barrymore Isabella Stewart Gardner Lilly Langtry and Lillian Russell were among the district’s fashionable patrons. The elevated train the El on Sixth Avenue improved accessibility for a wider range of shoppers. However extravagant shoppers continued to arrive by carriage. Notable residents included Horace Greeley Washington Irving Samuel F B Morse Emily Post Edith Wharton and members of the Roosevelt family.
As the district became more commercialized the elite moved uptown. The upscale stores followed. By the end of World War I most buildings had been converted to warehouses and lofts. Many buildings however survived. Renovations in the 1980s brought about a revival. Large retail stores now occupy street levels. The Ladies Mile Historic District is again a shopping destination although its clientele is quite different now.
The Ladies Mile Historic District’s designation in 1989 was hard fought. The Drive to Protect the Ladies Mile District a group formed by Anthony C Wood and Jack Taylor played a major role. They faced opposition from the Real Estate Board of New York. Margaret and Truman Moore’s 1983 book End of the Road for Ladies Mile helped raise awareness. Support from celebrities such as Woody Allen Diana Vreeland and Joseph Papp boosted the campaign. The result is the preservation of this unique slice of New York history.