Authored by Chris Lund

South Village Historical Walking Tour

Map and Presentation created by Leanna Ladouceur, Mary Glynn & Melissa Henderson

South Village Historical Walking Tour Powerpoint Presentation

This map and presentation combine to provide a detailed guided historical walking tour of Manhattan’s South Village, home to many Italian immigrants at the turn of the century. The tour highlights many key locations and areas, featuring buildings from this period which are still standing today, along with those that have been demolished and replaced. Historical photographs are provided to allow tourgoers to compare each area’s present appearance to its past. Additional information is also included about each stop, adding depth, context and perspective to the modern scenery.Some of the highlights of the tour include federal style row houses on McDougal and Sullivan streets, 19th Century tenement housing, Our Lady of Pompeii Church, the former residence of Louisa May Alcott, the headquarters of Tiro A Segno (the oldest Italian Heritage organization in the United States), Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and the site of Mori’s Restaurant.  The presentation also discusses several prominent Italian community leaders of the era, such and banker/philanthropist Luigi Fugazy and parish priest Father Anthony Demo.

The tour begins at Our Lady of Pompeii Church on Carmine street, then continues along Bleecker Street, Minetta Street, McDougal Street, Sullivan Street and Thomspon Street, finishing back on Bleecker.