Chelsea

Chelsea sits in western Manhattan and runs from 14th to 30th Street between Sixth Avenue and the Hudson River, with typical brownstone houses and converted warehouses. The area combines residential blocks with former industrial buildings that now host galleries and shops.

Major Thomas Clarke acquired the land in 1750 and gave the estate the name of a London hospital. The area developed during the nineteenth century from a rural property into a densely built urban district with industry and housing.

The area has grown into an important gathering place for the LGBT community, with rainbow flags and related businesses lining the streets. The name comes from the eighteenth century and refers to a well-known hospital in London, though today modern galleries and artist studios shape the streetscape.

An elevated park runs through the district from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street and offers a raised walkway with views over the streets. Many galleries can be visited free of charge, with most exhibition spaces open from Wednesday to Saturday.

A former factory building now houses a large market with food stalls, and in this structure a famous cookie was once invented. Under the tracks of the old elevated railway, wildflowers and grasses now grow, recalling the original use as a train line.