Theatre Alley is a block-long cobblestone alley in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City, between Ann and Beekman Streets.[1] It is one of Manhattan's few alleys that is not privately owned, and prior to the expansion of 5 Beekman Street adjacent to the alley c. 2010, it was "dank and claustrophobic".[2]

Theatre Alley, looking south from Beekman Street

The alley was named for adjacent Park Theatre, which burned down in 1848.[2] According to Forgotten NY, it was New York's first one-way street, created to alleviate traffic jams caused by horse-drawn carriages arriving at the theater.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Theatre Alley", NYC Arts, retrieved October 2, 2017
  2. ^ a b Nick Carr (May 10, 2010), The Death of Theatre Alley (New York, You’ve Changed), Huffington Post
  3. ^ "The alleys of lower Manhattan", Forgotten NY, retrieved October 2, 2017

40°42′40″N 74°00′26″W / 40.7111°N 74.0073°W / 40.7111; -74.0073