Chelsea

Chelsea is widely known as one of New York City’s hotspots. This community roughly extends from 15th Street to 34th street

between the Hudson River and 6th avenue. Simply, it is the west side of the Manhattan borough. Chelsea is filled with

history, education, art, a diverse culture, and exciting night life.

Chelsea’s name originated from British Major Thomas Clarke who named his

home after the manor of Chelsea London, the home of Sir Thomas More.

Chelsea’s beginnings go back as far 1750 as a family farm. Changes, ensued

in the mid 19th century and Chelsea’s vast territories’ were replaced with

townhouses, pre-war co-ops, and luxury buildings with doormen.

In 1847 the Hudson River Railroad was created separating Chelsea from the Hudson River waterfront. The railroad posed an eyesore in terms of off-putting from the appeal of the rural neighborhood.

In 1910 Chelsea Piers was established and it was the city’s main luxury cruise terminal until 1935. It also is notoriously known for what would have been the Titanic’s destination. Currently, the piers are used by the Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex where one can partake in golf, bowling, skating, batting cages, and even rock climbing. It is about 30 acres and worth $130 million.

To still get a taste of Chelsea’s architectural history, first hand, visit 20th to 22nd street

between 8th and 10th avenue and you will be able to see, 1800s style, apartment buildings

that have maintained their historic character.

In 1883 an apartment

building, now known, as

Hotel Chelsea, was

established and it was considered New York’s

tallest and first co-op

apartment complex

building. Later when the

theatre district moved

uptown, it turned into a

bohemian styled hotel in 1905 and is

the site for the infamous deaths of

Thomas Dylan and Nancy Spungen

(girlfriend of Sid Vicious of

the Sex Pistols).

Chelsea Art Galleries

• Chelsea is the center of New York City’s art containing more than 200 art galleries stretching from 20th street to 28th street. Chelsea even embraces graffiti art, which is many times shunned in a community. In addition to many art galleries, Chelsea houses Rubin Museum of Art (major focus of Himalaya Art), Graffiti Research Lab (art group whose main focus is to outfit graffiti writers & protesters using technology for urban communication), and Dance Theater Workshop (a support organization for dance companies).

There are a variety of nightclubs and stores that cater to a gay customer base in Chelsea. There was a comic strip satirizing the gay culture in the district entitled "Chelsea Boys"

Chelsea Market located between 15th & 16th streets on 9th avenue is famous for housing Food Network offices upstairs in addition to its shops and bakeries. It was originally the Nabisco plant and birthplace of the Oreo cookie in 1898.