National Register of Historic Places

Schermerhorn Row Block

New York, New York County, New York
Listed
February 17, 1971
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
71000547

About this property

The Schermerhorn Row Block (pronounced ) is a city block bounded by John Street, South Street, Fulton Street, and Front Street in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City, United States, near the South Street Seaport. Named for Peter Schermerhorn, the block includes approximately 20 buildings from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, designed in the Federal and Greek Revival styles. The Schermerhorn Row name originally applied only to the buildings at 2 through 18 Fulton Street, dating from 1811–1812. The name also covers the other buildings on the block, at 181–195 Front Street, 159–171 John Street, and 91–92 South Street The buildings were designated New York City Landmarks in 1968, and the block was collectively added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The Schermerhorn Row site occupies reclaimed land on the East River between two long-demolished boat slips: Burling Slip to the south and Beekman Slip to the north. The land between the slips was infilled gradually in the late 18th century, and development of the block began as early as the 1790s. During the mid-19th century, the block included many businesses related to the maritime industry, including grocers, steamship lines, and boarding houses. The buildings underwent significant design changes throughout the years. The South Street Seaport Museum took over the buildings in the 1960s and 1970s, amid plans to demolish and redevelop the site. The buildings were renovated from 1981 to 1983 and again in the early 2000s. The buildings on the block are generally between four and six stories tall. The buildings at 2 through 18 Fulton Street are all nearly identical on the exterior, with cast-iron storefronts at ground level and brick facades on the upper stories. Many of the other buildings on the Schermerhorn Row Block, particularly the structures on Front and John streets, have granite facades at the ground level and brick facades above. Since the 1980s, the buildings have included businesses on their lower stories and residences above.

Location

New York, New York County, New York
40.70480, -74.00608

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Schermerhorn Row Block

This page lists Schermerhorn Row Block. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Schermerhorn Row Block report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

John Street Building No. 170-176
Industrial
0.1 mi
Beaver Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
First Police Precinct Station House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Wall and Hanover Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
W. O. DECKER (tugboat)
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Schermerhorn Row Block listed on the National Register?

Schermerhorn Row Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 17, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Schermerhorn Row Block?

Schermerhorn Row Block is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Schermerhorn Row Block?

The period of significance for Schermerhorn Row Block is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Schermerhorn Row Block?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Schermerhorn Row Block will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in New York County

Historic places, battles, and census history across New York County.

Explore New YorkCounty ›

More historic places in New York

Browse all historic places in New York.

View New Yorkhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New York history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Yorkhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Schermerhorn Row Block will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report