East Village in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

27 Cooper Square

Photographed by Larry Gertner, March 27, 2019

1. 27 Cooper Square Marker

Inscription. In the 1960’s, this 1845 former rooming house became a laboratory for artistic, literary and political currents. Writers LeRoi Jones (later Amiri Baraka) and Hettie Jones, their Yugen magazine and Toten Press, musician Archie Shepp and painter Elizabeth Murray all had homes here. The vacant building was transformed into a vital hub of cultural life, attracting leading figures including those from the Beats and the world of jazz.

Placed by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation with the generous support of the Two Boots Foundation

Erected 2017 by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation & The Two Boots Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.

Location. 40° 43.67′ N, 73° 59.458′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in East Village. It is on Cooper Square/Bowery near East 5th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in

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this post office area: New York NY 10003, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New York City.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 27 Cooper Sq. (within shouting distance of this marker); America’s First Freedom Rider (within shouting distance of this marker); The Hippest Place on Earth (within shouting distance of this marker); Paresis Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Vauxhall Gardens (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Manuel Plaza (about 300 feet away); Old Merchants House of New York (about 300 feet away); New York’s “Little Germany” (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

27 Cooper Square image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, July 14, 2016

2. 27 Cooper Square

The marker is blocked by the men on the far right/

Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 1,078 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 5, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker and the surrounding area together in context. • Can you help?