The Stonewall Inn may be a world-renowned historic site, but it’s still a working bar. After reading the plaque outside, step inside for a drink—depending on who’s tending the bar, you just might get a firsthand account of the uprising.
A great way to learn about the uprising and the rise of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in NYC is by taking an LGBTQ history-focused walking tour. These tours cover NYC’s LGBTQ+ history, from before the uprising to today, by visiting such notable sights as the city’s oldest gay bar and the site of the first Pride march.
The Stonewall Inn is located on Christopher Street in the heart of New York City's historic Greenwich Village. You can get there by taking the 1 line of the subway to Christopher Street-Sheridan Square Station, a 1-minute walk from the bar. By bus, take the 7th Avenue bus line on the M8 or M20 and get off at 7th Avenue/Barrow Street, a 3-minute walk away.
The bar is open seven days a week from early afternoon into the wee hours of the following morning. Having a relatively quiet drink during the day is possible, but evenings draw a loud party crowd. Check the Stonewall Inn’s website for the latest information on events: from bingo and drag to karaoke, something is happening every night.
If you fancy checking out some more NYC watering holes that are part of LGBTQ+ history, walk two minutes from the Stonewall Inn to Julius’. Open since 1840, Julius’ is believed to be the city’s oldest gay bar and was the site of the 1966 “Sip In,” an ultimately successful demonstration against New York State liquor regulations that prohibited bars from serving drinks to known or suspected gay men or lesbians.
