Stonewall Inn

The Stonewall Inn was the site of the famous Stonewall riots of 1969, which have come to symbolize the beginning of the gay liberation movement in the United States. It is located at 53 Christopher Street, between West 4th St. and Waverly Place, in Greenwich Village, New York City. Stonewall is regarded as the single most important event that led to the modern movement for gay and lesbian issues.

History
Originally constructed between 1843 and 1846 as stables, the property was turned into a restaurant in 1930. It remained a restaurant until it was gutted by fire in the mid 1960s.

On April 21, 1966, members of the Mattachine Society staged a "Sip-In" a block northeast of Stonewall at Julius Bar in which they challenged a New York State Liquor Authority rule that said homosexuals could not be served alcohol because they were considered "disorderly." A court ruling was to say that homosexuals could peacefully assemble.

On March 18, 1967, The Stonewall opened in the space. It was, during its time, the largest gay establishment in the U.S., and did a very good business, though, like most gay clubs at the time, police raids were not uncommon. A few months after the riots, The Stonewall Inn closed in late 1969. Over the next twenty years, the space was occupied by various other establishments, including a bagel sandwich shop, a Chinese restaurant, and a shoe store. Many visitors and new residents in the neighborhood were unaware of the building's history or its connection to the Stonewall riots. In the early 1990s, a new gay bar, named simply "Stonewall" opened in the west half of the original Stonewall Inn. Around this time, the block of Christopher Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues was given the honorary name of "Stonewall Place" by the Borough of Manhattan.

Each year during the Pride March crowds gather outside the Stonewall Inn to enjoy its rich history.

In 1995 the movie "Stonewall" was released. Written by Rikki Beadle-Blair and loosely adapted from Martin Duberman's book of the same name, the Film won awards and was wildly received at Film Festivals the world over. The Film's Screenwriter has just adapted his Screenplay for the Stage and "Stonewall" the Stage show had it's World Premiere in London in July 2007 before heading to for the 2007 Edinburgh Festival in August of the same year.

In June 1999, an area including the Stonewall event was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historic significance to gay and lesbian history. The area delineated included the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and portions of surrounding streets and sidewalks. The area was declared a National Historic Landmark in February 2000.,,

It was revitalized in the late 1990s and became a popular multi-floor nightclub with theme nights and contests. The club gained popularity well into the new millennium gaining a young urban gay clientele until it closed again in 2006, after the owner lost its lease.

New Stonewall Inn
In January 2007 it was announced the owners of the famous Duplex Piano Bar next door to The Stonewall Inn were renovating and reopening the Stonewall in February 2007. On January 3 2007, Chris Shott in the New York Observer reported "It's a marvelous day for Gayville! Its rehab comes at the behest of the bar's new management, which includes Kurt Kelly, Bill Morgan and Tony DeCicco of the neighboring Duplex piano bar."

Media References & Portrayals

 * The Quantum Leap television episode "Running for Honor" and the comic book issue titled "Up Against A Stonewall" both make reference to the Stonewall Inn.
 * A 1995 film titled "Stonewall" is loosely based on the incidents leading up to the riots.