History and architecture
The Public Baths were built between 1904 and 1906 by the City of New York. The building was designed by Arnold W. Brunner and william Martin Aiken, asso-ciated architects for this project. Public baths were a necessity for many New York City residents during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The area of Manhattan north of City Hall up to 23rd Street and east to the river had an extremely high population density. The residents of this area were housed in overcrowded tenements which for the most part contained no bathing facilities. Consequently public baths served an important need. The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Commission now administers the building as an indoor swimming pool.
This neo-Classical Roman style bathhouse is a distant descendant of the famous Roman baths; consequently, Brunner and Aiken considered the Roman style appropriate for this 20th-century version.
Sources and further reading
This history comes from the Landmarks app’s historical catalog. Names and building uses may reflect the period described.