Historic Ladies' Mile Walk: During the Gilded Age & Beyond

This Historic Ladies Mile walk is along a very scenic route filled with interesting places. I will comment on architecture/history, but you will have plenty of time to socialize with others.

Cost: The cost of this event is $4 per person, which is paid at the start of the walk. This is for the organizer's Meetup preparation costs and fees. (Please read the "About Us Section" for more information regarding the $4 per person fee for each event.)

This walk is similar to a guided walking tour with a number of stops. If you don't like to stop at a number of points of interest, then this walk is not good for you.

This walk is about 2 1/4 miles & moderate paced.

We'll walk on the shady side of the street as much as possible. When we stop to look at something, we'll stay on a shady area.

If you are registered for this walk and can't attend, please change your RSVP online from "YES" to "NO". (PLEASE READ THE "ABOUT US SECTION" FOR THE GUIDELINES REGARDING THE NO SHOW POLICY.)

THERE IS NO NEED TO POST WHY YOU CAN'T MAKE THE EVENT.

No young children, service animals, or pets allowed on this walk w/o prior approval of organizer. No smoking, please.

As what usually happens on every event, many people from the waiting list will end up on the going list.

If you have a personal matter/questions, please contact John, the Event Host, through his private Meetup account.

The feature photo above shows the 6th Avenue Elevated train going south through Ladies' Mile.

Description

We'll walk around sections of Ladies' Mile that served as a glamorous shopping center in Gilded Age NYC from the 1870s to the beginning of World War One. Many of these spectacular department store buildings from this time period have managed to survive to the present.

We'll discuss some of the people back then: the women shoppers who crowded those gigantic and spacious stores; the shop girls, delivery men, and others who were employed there by the thousands; the children who worked at odds and end retailing jobs; and the merchant entrepreneurs who built these behemoth stores. We'll also talk about some the neighborhood residents, such as the Roosevelt family, who lived in the area at that time.

Article from the Bowery Boys about shopping during the Gilded Age.

http://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2014/05/the-sumptuous-story-of-ladies-mile.html

From Ephemeral NY, some stories/photos about Ladies' Mile, including a story of Margaret Getchell, who was a top executive at Macy's Department Store at 14th Street/6th Avenue.

https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/tag/ladies-mile/

Meeting Time: (after lunch) at 1:45 PM.

Meeting Place: Outside of the entrance to Barnes & Noble Bookstore at 33 East 17th Street, which is between Park Avenue South & Broadway. Before the walk, restrooms are available in Barnes & Noble.

Transportation: Take the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, or R subway train to 14th Street & Union Square.

Finishing Time: 4:45 PM.

Finishing Place: 6th Avenue and 21st Street.

Bad weather cancels this walk. Therefore, if it is bad weather, I'll send out emails about the cancellation sometime before 10:30 AM on Monday morning. If I don't send out emails about the cancellation, I plan to be at the meeting place.