“One of the few outstanding Art Nouveau buildings in the United States” That’s how the New York Evening Post Building is described. We’re standing right in front of it.
This magnificent structure at 20 Vesey Street wasn’t just a workplace. It housed the New York Evening Post newspaper. This building was also home to the presses that printed its pages. Oswald Garrison Villard owned the Post at the time it was built. He commissioned architect Robert D Kohn to design this architectural masterpiece. The building’s construction took place between 1906 and 1907.
The New York Evening Post Building is fourteen stories tall. Its stone veneer recalls Parisian boulevards. Three tall bays of cast-iron framed bow windows add to its unique charm. Pale limestone piers separate these beautiful windows. There’s an elaborate copper-covered mansard roof. This roof is two stories high. Four sculpted figures adorn it. These statues depict the Four Periods of Publicity. Two were created by Gutzon Borglum. He’s famous for sculpting Mount Rushmore. The architect’s wife Estelle Rumbold Kohn sculpted the other two.
The New York Evening Post occupied the building until 1926. Then they moved to a new location. Afterwards the building became known as the Garrison Building. It received landmark status in 1965. The New York Landmarks Preservation Commission even headquartered there from 1980 to 1987.
This building is more than just bricks and mortar. It reflects a time when Art Nouveau flourished. It also signifies the importance of the New York Evening Post in the city’s history. The building even played a significant role in the fight for racial equality. It housed the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s national headquarters. Imagine the stories these walls could tell.
So take a moment. Appreciate the architectural details. Marvel at the artistry of the sculptures. Remember the significance of this place in New York City’s rich past. The New York Evening Post Building is a testament to beauty and progress. It’s a tangible piece of history. Let’s move on to our next destination.