280 Broadway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 280 Broadway
Alternative names	A.T. Stewart Dry Goods Store Marble Palace Sun Building
General information
Architectural style	Italianate
Address	280 Broadway
Town or city	Civic Center, Manhattan, New York, New York
Country	United States
Coordinates	40°42′51″N 74°00′22″W / 40.71417°N 74.00611°W / 40.71417; -74.00611
Construction started	1845
Completed	1846
Renovated	1850–51, 1851–52 1872, 1884
Height	77.53 feet (23.63 m)
Technical details
Floor count	7
Design and construction
Architect	John B. Snook Joseph Trench
Renovating team
Architect	Trench & Snook (1850–51, 51–52) Frederick Schmidt (1872) Edward D. Harris (1884)
A. T. Stewart Dry Goods Store (Sun Building)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
NRHP reference No.	78001885
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 2, 1978
Designated NHL	June 2, 1978

280 Broadway is a famous old building in New York City. It is also known as the A.T. Stewart Dry Goods Store, the Marble Palace, and the Sun Building. This historic building is located in the Civic Center area of Manhattan.

It was the first business building in New York to use the Italianate style of architecture. Many people consider it to be the location of one of America's first department stores. The building was designed by John B. Snook and his company. It was built for the A. T. Stewart Company, which opened New York's first department store inside it. Later, it was home to New York Sun newspaper. Today, it serves as the main office for the New York City Department of Buildings.

In 1965, 280 Broadway was named a National Historic Landmark. It was also recognized as a New York City landmark in 1986.

Building History: From Store to Offices

A. T. Stewart's Marble Palace

Alexander Turney Stewart started his business across the street. When his store became very successful, he decided to build a grand new store. This new building became known as the "Marble Palace." It was built where Washington Hall used to be, which was once the main office for the Federalist Party.

Stewart's department store introduced new ways to sell goods. He was one of the first to set fixed prices for his items. He also attracted many female customers with special sales and fashion shows. His store's success inspired many other stores to open nearby on Broadway. In the 1850s, this part of Broadway became a popular place for people to shop and show off their new clothes.

Architectural Style and Expansion

The building was the first business structure in New York City built in the Italianate style. It was also the first to be covered in Tuckahoe marble. After 1850, cast iron was used on the ground floors to support the marble. Both of these features set a new trend for other "commercial palaces" that were built later.

The store started at the corner of Broadway and Reade Street. It grew over time, expanding down Broadway and across Chambers Street. Additions were made in 1850-51 and 1851–52, designed by Trench & Snook. Another addition was made in 1872 by Frederick Schmidt.

New Uses for the Building

In 1862, the A. T. Stewart store moved to a new, larger building uptown. After the store moved, the building at 280 Broadway became a warehouse. In 1884, Edward D. Harris designed an addition. Two more floors were added to the original five, and the building was changed into offices.

In 1917, The New York Sun newspaper bought the building. They renamed it the Sun Building. In 1966, New York City bought the building. They planned to tear it down as part of a city redevelopment project, but this plan did not happen.

From 1995 to 2002, the building was repaired and updated. This work was overseen by Beyer Blinder Belle. Today, the city's Department of Buildings uses the upper floors. The first and second floors are used for retail stores. You can still see a non-working clock on the Broadway corner of the building. It reads, "The Sun... It Shines for All," a reminder of its newspaper days.

See also

In Spanish: 280 Broadway para niños