Theater District in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Town Hall

New York City Designated Landmark

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 23, 2022

1. Town Hall Marker

Inscription. This Federal Revival building was completed in 1921 as a meeting hall for the City of New York. Commissioned by the League of Political Education, the firm of Mckim, Mead & White designed the building to serve as a forum for political and cultural issues. The auditorium is noted for its acoustics. the meetings became a popular arena for airing the nation's most pressing and controversial issues, attracting such distinguished speakers as Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Thomas Mann. From 1935 to 1958 the weekly Thursday night meetings were broadcast nationwide as "America's Town Meeting of the Air."

Erected 1989 by New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is January 12, 1921.

Location. 40° 45.354′ N, 73° 59.059′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Theater District. Marker is on West 43rd Street west of Sixth Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 123 West 43rd Street, New York NY 10036, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named The Town Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lambs Club

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Knickerbocker Hotel (about 500 feet away); Our Story (about 500 feet away); 5 Fun facts about Wafels and dinges (about 500 feet away); About them Belgians and their Wafels! (about 500 feet away); Algonquin Hotel (about 500 feet away); Welcome to Bryant Park (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Also see . . .
1. The Town Hall (New York City) (Wikipedia). (Submitted on May 27, 2022.)
2. Inside The Town Hall, A Times Square Theater Founded By Suffragists (Untapped New York).

Excerpt: "The Town Hall opened on January 12, 1921, after being founded by The League for Political Education, a women’s suffrage group. Designed as a space for discussion, it quickly fulfilled its goal in November of that same year, as birth control activist Margaret Sanger was suddenly arrested on stage in the middle of a public meeting on birth control. Her arrest sparked outrage and publicity, and she later founded the American Birth Control League—or as we call it today, Planned Parenthood."

(Submitted on May 27, 2022.)

Town Hall Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 23, 2022

2. Town Hall Marker - wide view

The marker is visible here mounted to the wall, just to the right of the box office door entrance.

The Town Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 23, 2022

3. The Town Hall

Town Hall - Foundation Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 23, 2022

4. Town Hall - Foundation Plaque

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 27, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.