The Wilbraham

The Wilbraham is a nine-story apartment hotel at the corner of 30th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The lower floors display rusticated stone blocks from New Jersey, while the upper stories are faced with red brick from Philadelphia.

Scottish-American jeweler William Moir constructed the building between 1888 and 1890 during rapid urban expansion. Its completion marked part of Manhattan's intensive period of growth and development.

The building functioned as a residential hotel for single men, reflecting how people lived in the late 1800s. Residents used shared spaces rather than private kitchens, gathering together for meals on certain floors.

The corner location makes it easy to find and orient yourself using the street names and surrounding landmarks. The building's distinctive facade with contrasting materials is clearly visible from the street, making it simple to identify from a distance.

The original apartment units were designed without kitchens because residents took all their meals in a communal dining room on the eighth floor. This unusual arrangement shows how differently housing was organized in the past.

Location: Manhattan

Architects: D. & J. Jardine

Architectural style: Romanesque Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 40.74620,-73.98670

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:08