Lafayette Street, street in Manhattan
Lafayette Street is a north-south street in Manhattan running through the SoHo and NoLita neighborhoods. Its blocks are lined with 19th-century cast-iron buildings that now house galleries, independent shops, and restaurants.
Lafayette Street was laid out in the early 1800s as Manhattan grew northward, and its buildings were originally used for manufacturing and trade. In the mid-20th century, artists began moving into the old factory spaces, gradually shifting the area away from industry.
Lafayette Street is named after the French general who helped the American Revolution. Today the street serves as a gathering place for galleries, boutiques, and restaurants where visitors can experience the creative character of SoHo and NoLita.
The street is easy to walk from end to end, and daytime is the best time to visit when shops and galleries are open. Because it passes through two different neighborhoods, taking short detours into the side streets of both SoHo and NoLita is worth the time.
Lafayette Street is one of the few streets in New York named after a foreign figure during that person's own lifetime, honoring the French general the Marquis de Lafayette when he visited the city in 1824. The street was renamed in his honor shortly before his arrival, making his visit a public celebration tied directly to the street itself.
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