The “Washington Street Historical Society” is a New York State-chartered educational institution. The charitable mission of the organization is to foster education and awareness about the history of migration to the "Washington Street" neighborhood of the financial district of Manhattan, also known as the "Lower West Side" or "Little Syria." The historical society maintains artifact collections; works to install plaques, memorials, and signs in the neighborhood; supports local historic preservation campaigns; and advances independent historical research.
The WSHS does research to support the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission’s consideration of the landmark designation of the Downtown Community House and 109 Washington Street tenement. Join us in saving this part of New York.
Support us →The WSHS has adopted the Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza at the intersection of Trinity Place and Greenwich Street, supporting repairs and new plaques and historical signage, and we aim to install additional signage and public art in Downtown Manhattan.
Learn more →Anchored by the Sadallah family collection, the WSHS collects and organizes artifacts connected to the Washington Street neighborhood. Please donate, volunteer, or help us discover new artifacts!
See our collections →
With Mayor Bill de Blasio appointing Meenakshi Srinivasan as the new Landmarks Preservation Commission Chairperson, there is widespread hope among preservationists and historians that her commission will offer a more transparent, predictable, and publically-responsive …
Read more →On May 1, 2013, the Financial District Committee of Community Board One unanimously advanced the below resolution advocating signage for “Little Syria.” While not all members necessarily voted or were present, the committee includes …
Read more →This morning the Wall Street Journal has a wonderful print and video piece about our campaign to protect the remaining complex of three historic buildings on Washington Street in Little Syria.
This is indeed an …
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