Cooper Union
7 East 7th Street, NY NY
Background: This institution fulfilled philanthropist Peter Cooper’s dream to “improve and elevate the working classes of the City of New York.” It opened in 1858, offering instruction in chemistry, physics, math and music, and housing the only well-stocked free library in the city. Soon as many as 3,000 people a week passed through its doors. Abraham Lincoln gave the keynote address of his 1860 campaign here, which concerned the slavery issue and brought him national prominence. (National Historic Landmark Statement of Significance)
Designated an NHL: July 4, 1961
Commentary: The building that NHL lists as Cooper Union is currently the Cooper Union Library. The Cooper Union is an undergraduate insitution which provides instruction in architecture, art and engineering. The administration offers full scholarships to all enrolled students. (More information).
The NHL designation is located on the 7th street side of the building. We’ll call it the back since there’s no entrance here but there are some very nice steps. The front is around the other side, across from the park. Cooper Square features many homeless people and a memorial to Peter Cooper.
Appropriately, the school also has a particularly unique architectural history. It is the Oldest Building in the United States to be supported by rolled structural beams.
Personal Moment: This visit forced me to rethink the direction of my undertaking. Sometimes a National Historic Landmark is really just a mark on nationally historic land. Sometimes you’ll go inside the building, take a few pictures of the hallway and then the guard - who is completely fascinated by what you’re doing - will tell you that it is not, in fact, open to The Public.
I’ve learned a lot about myself on these two visits. I’ve learned that sometimes I prefer bronze statues, guides, wax museums, paintings and the opportunity to walk around a building and pretend it’s the year 1804 and I live there. I prefer things with faces and/or authentic upholstery.
Sometimes the most exciting part of your trip will be getting almost-hit by Michael Musto on a bike. It wasn’t his fault, I was distracted by my camera. Also, it could never be his fault because I love that guy.
The new goal: Faces and upholstery.
More pictures are here. Including a picture of a great hall that is not so great.
