The Stonewall Inn

Bars | History

Landmarked Bar Where Pride Began

Stonewall Inn greenwich village bar

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About The Stonewall Inn

 & why it made the Carpe City list

  • On June 28, 1969, an uprising against a police raid at Stonewall sparked the modern Gay Rights movement. 
  • Today, Stonewall is a National Monument, run under the auspices of the National Park Service. It’s the first National Park site dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. 
  • Stonewall’s life as a gay bar began in 1966, when the Genovese crime family purchased the bar and turned it into a gay club. 
    • In fact, the mob owned most of the gay establishments in Greenwich Village at the time, seeing a business opportunity in the bribes, kickbacks and blackmailing schemes involved in protecting gay patrons from the NYPD.  
  • The bar was special even before it made an indelible mark on American history. It was the only gay men’s bar in New York City where dancing was allowed, so it was a sought-after night spot. 
  • At 1:20am, on Saturday, June 28, 1969, four plainclothes officers raided Stonewall, but instead of dispersing, a crowd gathered. 
  • The riots lasted two nights and the notion of “Gay Power” was born. 
  • The following year, on June 28, 1970, gay New Yorkers organized Christopher Street Liberation Day, in honor of the first anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the very first pride parade. 
  • Every pride parade since has honored the history of Stonewall. 
  • Today, Stonewall remains a working bar, as well as an historic site! 

Carpe City Trivia

The Stonewall Inn has its very own beer?

The Brooklyn Brewery created the Stonewall Inn IPA especially for Stonewall!
Proceeds from the drink support LQBTQ+ charities. 

By: Lucie Levine

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