Van Tassell and Kearney Horse Auction Mart, Historic horse auction building in East Village, Manhattan, US
The Van Tassell and Kearney Horse Auction Mart is a Beaux-Arts style building located at 128 East 13th Street in the East Village neighborhood. The three-story structure features a restored stone facade with classical architectural details and large windows designed to provide natural light to the interior spaces.
The building was constructed in 1903 and served as a central marketplace where wealthy families purchased quality horses for their estates and businesses. During World War II, the space shifted purpose to become a training facility where workers learned assembly-line manufacturing skills.
The building's name recalls its original purpose as a trading place for quality animals in Manhattan. Today visitors passing by can still observe the sturdy stone work and tall windows that once allowed buyers to inspect horses in good light.
The building now houses the Peridance Center, which operates dance studios and a performance theater inside. Visitors can view the exterior and appreciate the preserved architecture, as this is a registered historic property.
Artist Frank Stella maintained his studio in this building from 1978 to 2005 and played a key role in preserving its original structure. His presence connected the building's past as a marketplace to the contemporary art world.
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