Financial District in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
First Precinct Police Station
Exploring Downtown
— 100 Old Slip; Hunt & Hunt, Architects, 1909-1911 —
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 26, 2011
1. First Precinct Police Station Marker
Downtown’s East River shipping history still resonates in the names of half a dozen streets called slips – originally inlets carved into the island, where ships were tied up at either side to unload merchandise. Eventually filled in and paved, Old Slip, Coenties Slip, Peck Slip and others further north remain noticeably wider than adjoining streets.
The newly created street at Old Slip belonged to the City of New York. In its center, the City erected two public buildings: the First Precinct police station, modeled after the 15th-century palazzo Medici-Riccardi in Florence, and a firehouse which once stood next to it. The firehouse has long since been demolished, but the police station survives, and now houses The New York City Police Museum.
Recreating the look and feel of an old precinct house, the Police Museum maintains exhibits including uniforms, shields, firearms, motorcycles, and such artifacts as a machine gun used by Al Capone’s gang, and a special exhibit honoring the heroic police response to September 11. 2001.
Erected by The Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1728.
Location. 40° 42.243′ N, 74° 0.522′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. India House / British Memorial Garden in Hanover Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Brooklyn (within shouting distance of this marker); Reframing Neglect (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 100 Old Slip - New York City Police Museum (about 300 feet away); In Memory of (about 400 feet away); The Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden (about 400 feet away); The Cotton Exchange (about 400 feet away); First Printing Press in the Colony of New York (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
More about this marker. A photo of policemen outside the First Precinct Police Station appears at the top of the marker. The right of the marker features pictures of Ships docked in a slip circa 1830, and of a Police platoon in front of the First Precinct circa 1912.
Regarding First Precinct Police Station. The building is listed in the "AIA (American Institute of Architects) Guide to New York City, Fifth Edition".
Related markers.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 26, 2011
2. Marker on Water Street
Old Slip can be seen in the background, behind the marker.
Also see . . . Hunt & Hunt's 1911 1st Precinct -- 100 Old Slip. "Daytonian in Manhattan" entry. (Submitted on March 6, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 26, 2011
3. First Precinct Police Station and Marker
The First Precinct Police Station can be seen in this photo beyond the marker.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 26, 2011
4. First Precinct Police Station Marker
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 26, 2011
5. First Precinct Police Station
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 31, 2018
6. First Precinct Police Station Marker, 2018
The latest "Exploring Lower Manhattan" version.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 786 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on March 4, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 27, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 6. submitted on December 31, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
