Lamartine Place Historic District, Historic district in Chelsea, Manhattan, United States.
Lamartine Place Historic District comprises twelve rowhouses built in the mid-1800s that form a continuous line along the north side of West 29th Street. Each building retains its original Greek Revival brick facade and period architectural features.
William Torrey and Cyrus Mason built these Greek Revival houses in 1847 and named the location after French writer Alphonse de Lamartine. The rowhouses became a focal point during a turbulent period in the city's history when social tensions ran high.
The Gibbons residence served as a place of hope and assistance for those seeking freedom through secret routes. The family's actions reveal how ordinary homes became part of a larger movement to help people escape bondage.
You can walk along the street and view the buildings from the outside at your own pace without restrictions. The rowhouses are best appreciated by strolling slowly to observe the architectural details and craftsmanship of each facade.
During the 1863 riots, the Gibbons family daughters used a hidden advantage of these connected rowhouses to escape an attacking mob by crossing from roof to roof. This passage over the adjoining rooftops allowed them to reach safety without going down to the street.
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