Pfaff's Cellar

Pfaff's Cellar was a popular New York City gathering place for Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and other notable American literary figures of the 19th century, including Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, and Herman Melville. This underground tavern was a hub for Bohemian artists, writers, and intellectuals, who would often engage in lively discussions and debates about politics, philosophy, and the arts. Regulars at Pfaff's Cellar also included Fitz Hugh Ludlow, Ada Clare, and Charles Pfaff, the tavern's owner, who was known for his hospitality and generosity towards the literary community. The tavern's atmosphere was often compared to that of the Parisian cafés, where French literary figures like Victor Hugo, Gustave Flaubert, and Émile Zola would gather to discuss their works.

Introduction

Pfaff's Cellar was located in the basement of a building on Broadway in Manhattan, near the New York Tribune offices, where Horace Greeley and Charles Dana worked. The tavern was a short walk from the New York Public Library, which was founded by Samuel Tilden, and the Cooper Union, where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Cooper Union speech. Pfaff's Cellar was also close to the Brooklyn Bridge, which was designed by John Augustus Roebling and Washington Roebling, and the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. The tavern's proximity to these landmarks made it a convenient meeting place for writers, artists, and intellectuals from all over the city, including Brooklyn and New Jersey. Regular visitors to Pfaff's Cellar included William Dean Howells, Thomas Bailey Aldrich, and Julia Ward Howe, who would often engage in lively discussions about literature, politics, and social issues.

History

Pfaff's Cellar was established in the mid-19th century, during a time of great cultural and literary change in the United States. The tavern was a popular gathering place for writers, artists, and intellectuals who were associated with the American Renaissance, a literary movement that included Hawthorne, Melville, and Whitman. The tavern was also a hub for Bohemian artists and writers, who were influenced by the French Bohemian movement and the works of Charles Baudelaire and Théodore de Banville. Pfaff's Cellar was known for its lively atmosphere, which was fueled by the wit and humor of its regulars, including Artemus Ward and Josh Billings. The tavern was also a popular spot for music and theater performances, featuring artists like Lola Montez and Adah Isaacs Menken.

Literary Significance

Pfaff's Cellar played an important role in the development of American literature, particularly in the works of Walt Whitman and Edgar Allan Poe. Whitman, who was a regular at the tavern, often read his poetry to the other patrons, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Poe, who was also a regular, would often engage in lively discussions about literature and philosophy with the other patrons, including Fitz Hugh Ludlow and Charles Pfaff. The tavern was also a hub for literary criticism, with writers like William Dean Howells and Thomas Bailey Aldrich discussing the latest works of American literature. The tavern's influence can be seen in the works of many American writers, including Mark Twain, Herman Melville, and Stephen Crane.

Cultural Impact

Pfaff's Cellar had a significant impact on the cultural and social landscape of New York City during the 19th century. The tavern was a hub for Bohemian artists and writers, who were known for their nonconformity and rebelliousness. The tavern was also a popular spot for women's rights activists, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, who would often meet there to discuss their causes. The tavern's influence can be seen in the works of many American artists, including Thomas Eakins and Mary Cassatt, who were influenced by the tavern's lively atmosphere and the people who gathered there. The tavern was also a popular spot for music and theater performances, featuring artists like Oscar Wilde and Lillian Russell.

Preservation Efforts

Despite its significant cultural and literary importance, Pfaff's Cellar is no longer in existence. The building that housed the tavern was demolished in the early 20th century, and the site is now occupied by a skyscraper. However, efforts have been made to preserve the tavern's legacy, including the establishment of the Pfaff's Cellar museum in New York City. The museum features artifacts and exhibits related to the tavern and its patrons, including Walt Whitman and Edgar Allan Poe. The museum is located near the New York Public Library, which has an extensive collection of works by American writers who frequented Pfaff's Cellar, including Mark Twain, Herman Melville, and Stephen Crane. The library also has a collection of works by French writers who influenced the Bohemian movement, including Victor Hugo and Gustave Flaubert.

Category:Historic sites in New York City