Cultural History

W.34th St. to Horatio St.

In the latter part of the 1800’s, the Chelsea waterfront emerged as a nucleus of economic growth, specifically with the development of the Chelsea Piers for transatlantic travel and shipping.

Chelsea also became a major distribution center as coal was shipped to the city and stored along the waterfront for public and domestic illumination, heating, cooking, railroad and ship fuel, and as a source of power for many industries.

1912 - The Titanic was scheduled to arrive at Chelsea Piers on April 16, 1912 at the conclusion of her maiden voyage. Fate intervened, and the “unsinkable” ship struck an iceberg and sank on April 14, 1912. Of the 2,200 passengers aboard, 675 were rescued by the Cunard liner Carpathia, which arrived at the Chelsea Piers on April 20th.

1952 – The new Pier 57 is built with distinct engineering features.  It is the only pier in New York City to be built on floating concrete boxes.

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Horatio St. to Canal St.

Robert Fulton launched the Clermont, the first steamship, from Pier 45 in 1809.

The bownotch between Pier 45 and Pier 46 was the final and most extreme effort to accommodate the larger cruise ships that were increasingly using the river as the embarkment point for their journeys.

Learn about the ecological history of Sapohanikan Point (Pier 51) and local Native Americans - Print your own
Greenwich Village Walking Tour

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Canal St. to Chambers St.

Tribeca’s historical importance is first and foremost as shipment, warehouse and distribution center for New York City’s food industry.  The section of West Street along the river was the city’s food lifeline for over a century.

Today’s Tribeca was once a 62-acre farm belonging to Norwegian immigrant Anneke Jansen Bogardus. The land stretched from today’s Warren Street all the way up to the Hudson River.

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