Virtual Village Lets You Travel Back Through Neighborhood History

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY — Neighborhood historians rejoice.

A Lower Manhattan community organization recently created an online tool that allows you to journey back in time through Greenwich Village and the East Village.

The Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation launched its "Virtual Village" in October.

The online platform lets curious minds look back at the Village through 200 years, with 200 buildings to explore and 40 different neighborhood tours to pick from.

"At every turn you'll learn why this unprotected and endangered area of Greenwich Village and the East Village is so critical to New York and American history," the Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation said in a news release.

The tour will consist of buildings from Fifth to Third Avenues, 14th to 9th Streets, with themes ranging from African American, Jewish, Women's, and LGBTQ history, to the civil war and famous artists from the area.

Here are some of the highlights from the tour:

• The building where Billie Holiday began her music recording career, where "The Feminine Mystique" was published, and Benny Goodman first started producing records.
• Where the campaign for women's suffrage in New York City was led.
• Where a young Jackson Pollock began the Washington Square Art Show.
• The building where Martha Graham changed the future of dance.
• Where an Italian anti-fascist movement in New York was headquartered.

The Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation created the virtual neighborhood tool to address "the pressing need to preserve these historic sites by granting them landmark protection."

You can check out the Virtual Village on the organization's website.