Financial District in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Vietnam War Veterans Memorial / Dutch City Hall Site
Exploring Downtown
Vietnam War Veterans Memorial
All visitors, whether or not they are old enough to remember the Vietnam War, find this memorial a powerful experience. The simple 1985 granite and glass-block wall, 14 feet high by 70 feet long, is inscribed with writings. Mostly excerpts from letters home by soldiers, some of whom were killed in action, they evoke the emotion of the war. Shelves are provided for flowers, wreaths and candles. At dusk, the memorial is lit from within.
Dutch City Hall Site
Building Downtown means building on history – literally. The office building at 85 Broad Street occupies the site of New York’s very first city hall, a 1642 tavern (the Stadt Herbergh) on Pearl Street – converted for the purpose in 1653 by the good burghers of the original Dutch colony. Renamed the Stadt Huys (City Hall), it stood here until 1697.
Given the history, and the imminent destruction of any underground remains by the proposed construction of 85 Broad, in 1980 the site was temporarily turned over to a team of archeologists undertaking New York’s first large-scale archaeological dig. Although they found no trace of the Stadt Huys, the excavators did uncover the foundations of another early building – the Lovelace Tavern, built in 1670 for New York’s second English governor, Sir Francis Lovelace – and some 10,000 fragments of old Dutch tobacco pipes, 11,000 pieces of glass, and 23,000 shards of ceramic pottery. Remnants of the foundations and photographs of some of these artifacts can be seen in the plaza, under glass – a window into Downtown’s archaeological past.
Erected by The Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • War, Vietnam. A significant historical year for this entry is 1985.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 40° 42.228′ N, 74° 0.627′ W. Marker was in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It was in the Financial District. Marker was at the intersection of Pearl Street and Coenties Alley, on the right when traveling east on Pearl Street. Marker is at the northwest corner of the intersection of Pearl Street and Coenties Alley. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: New York NY 10004, United States of America.
We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. First Printing Press in the Colony of New York (within shouting distance of this marker); The Archaeology of the Stadt Huys Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Dutch Hoog Straat (within shouting distance of this marker); Stone Street Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); 57 Stone Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Fraunces Tavern Block Historic District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vietnam Veterans Plaza (about 300 feet away); 13 South William Street (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
More about this marker. A photograph of the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial dedication on May 7, 1985 appears on the top right of the marker. Below this is an etching of Dutch City Hall.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Take a tour of the markers in lower Manhattan erected by the Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc.
Also see . . . The Lost 1641 Stadt Huys, Broad and Pearl Streets. "Daytonian in Manhattan" entry. (Submitted on April 13, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,352 times since then and 20 times this year. Last updated on January 10, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 26, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5. submitted on December 11, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 6. submitted on January 12, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.