Chinatown in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Birthplace of Modern Tattooing!
11 Chatham Square
— 16 Bowery —
Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 25, 2016
1. Birthplace of Modern Tattooing! Marker
As a stomping ground for sailors and sporting men, the Bowery/Chatham Square was an appropriate location for Samuel O’Reilly and Charlie Wagner, the fathers of modern tattooing. O’Reilly, who patented the first electric tattooing machine in 1891, made a name for himself at 11 Chatham Square, as did his student Wagner, who took over when O’Reilly died in 1908. Known as the “Michelangelo of Tattoo,” he patented his own tattoo machine in 1904 featuring the same alignment many machines use today. Wagner also rented a space at 208 and 223 Bowery, but worked 11 Chatham Square until his death in 1953.
Other Bowery tattoo artists, some Wagner protégés, included Willie Moscowitz & Al Neville (4,12 Bowery), Lame Leroy (15 Bowery), Apache Harry (22 Bowery), and Moskowitz’s sons, Stanley and Walter (52 Bowery). The most unique was Mildred Hull, “New York’s only lady tattooist.” Raised on the Bowery, Millie was an exotic circus dancer when Wagner started tattooing her and taught her his craft. Her Tattoo Emporium opened in 1939 inside a barber shop at 16 Bowery.
Tattooers worked the Bowery until NYC banned tattooing in 1961. It wasn’t re-legalized until 1997.
- Michelle Myles, Tattoo Museum, 141 Division Street
(www.DaredevilTattoo.com)
Erected
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.
Location. 40° 42.873′ N, 73° 59.843′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Chinatown. Marker is on Bowery near Pell Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 Bowery, New York NY 10013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. NYC’s Oldest Brick House (here, next to this marker); Windows On The Bowery (within shouting distance of this marker); Gateway to Old Chinatown (within shouting distance of this marker); Barnum's First Big Bamboozle (within shouting distance of this marker); Stephen Foster (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); High and Low Art (about 300 feet away); The Bowery Boys (about 400 feet away); Roll of Honor (about 400 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 . . . The Bowery Historic District - National Park Service. National Register of Historic Places documentation - download (Submitted on April 9, 2024, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 25, 2016
2. 16 Bowery (aka 11 Chatham Square), left
The marker is in the front window, behind the woman's head.
3. Inset
Charlie Wagner at work
4. Inset
Charlie Wagner’s studio at 11 Chatham Square
5. Inset
Tattoo art
6. Inset
Samuel O’Reilly’s tattooing machine
7. Inset
Wagner & customer at 11 Chatham Square
8. Inset
Millie Hull and business partner Tommy Lee, Mildred’s Tattoo Studio at 16 Bowery
Photographed By Larry Gertner, April 4, 2019
9. A row of former tattoo parlors: 4, 12, 16 & 22 Bowery
Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 351 times since then and 48 times this year. Last updated on April 17, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 10, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 7, 8, 9. submitted on April 14, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
