MEETING ROOM (ENTER by way of 55 Washington Square South)

Greenwich Village Society For Historical Preservation Presents: 

Arch Conspirators Centennial Celebration

Late one winter night in 1917, a group of Greenwich Villagers stole into the Washington Square Arch and climbed to the roof. With blankets, paper lanterns, and champagne, they proclaimed from their vantage point that Greenwich Village was a free and independent nation. What precipitated this clandestine feat? Like so many who would come after these bohemians, these “Arch Conspirators” were worried that the neighborhood they knew and loved was changing.

To celebrate the 100-year anniversary of this bold act, join us in Judson Memorial Church’s stunning Stanford White-designed sanctuary, the same architect of the Washington Square Arch. Live music will transport you to 1917, where you and fellow New Yorkers will toast to our daring bohemian forebears. At a time when the future of inclusive environments feel a bit jeopardized, gather with your fellow New Yorkers for this special night of community and ceremony. Local Village purveyors will fill the sanctuary with the sights, sounds, and tastes of what continues to make the Village one of the most unique and cherished neighborhoods.

A concluding lantern ceremony at the Washington Square Arch will help us commune on what the next 100 years of inclusive, diverse Village will look like. Presented in partnership with Atlas Obscura.