280 Broadway

280 Broadway is a seven-story marble building showcasing Italianate architecture in Lower Manhattan. It occupies a prominent corner position at Chambers Street and features large windows characteristic of its classical design.

Built in 1846 for merchant Alexander Turney Stewart, this was among the first large-scale retail buildings in America. In the early 1900s it transitioned to become a major center for newspaper operations and publishing.

This structure has become a familiar landmark in the neighborhood that locals and visitors use to navigate the area. Its street-level presence connects to the rhythm of daily pedestrian traffic along Broadway.

The facade is visible and accessible from the street at any time, allowing you to view the architecture and details from the sidewalk. The location at a major intersection makes it easy to reach by public transportation.

A four-sided clock from 1917 and a two-sided thermometer from the 1930s still function on the building's facade. These working instruments provide time and temperature information to passersby, creating a rare example of practical street-level instruments still in use today.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1846

Architects: Trench & Snook

Architectural style: Italianate architecture

Floors above the ground: 7

Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dcas/business/dcasmanagedbuildings/sun-building.page

GPS coordinates: 40.71421,-74.00562

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:46