Nolita in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Incubator For Art
YMCA Building
— 222 Bowery —
Vacated by the YMCA during the early 1930s, the structure began attracting painters such as Fernand Leger, who used one of its loft spaces as a studio. From 1958 to 1959, Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko painted the murals originally intended for Midtown’s Seagram Building here. Other residents have included poet John Giorno, visual artists Michael Goldberg and Lynn Umlauf, as well as Beat Generation writer William Burroughs, who famously dubbed his apartment, “the Bunker.”
-David Freeland, author of Automats, Taxi Dancers & Vaudeville
Erected 2016 by Bowery Alliance of Neighbors.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 15, 1885.
Location. 40° 43.326′ N, 73° 59.614′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Nolita. Marker is on Bowery near Prince Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 222 Bowery, New York NY 10012, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 140 Years Of Help And Hope (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Eisenmann’s Photography Studio (within shouting distance of this marker); A Bowery Flop (within shouting distance of this marker); Italian Renaissance Palazzo On Bowery (within shouting distance of this marker); Sidewalks Of New York Premieres On Bowery! (within shouting distance of this marker); 200 Years & Counting (within shouting distance of this marker); Longest-Running Catalogue In America (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); “Big Tim” Sullivan’s Clubhouse (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
More about this marker. One of more than sixty entries in the “Windows on the Bowery” series.
Also see . . . Montparnasse on Skid Row -- No. 222 Bowery. "Daytonian in Manhattan" entry. (Submitted on April 10, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 4, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.