New York City, New York story
A Hidden Harmony
Tucked away in Brooklyn Heights is a private gated street called Washington Mews. Originally a row of stables for nearby homes, it took a creative turn in 1916 when a dozen stable…
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Tucked away in Brooklyn Heights is a private gated street called Washington Mews. Originally a row of stables for nearby homes, it took a creative turn in 1916 when a dozen stables were remodeled into artist studios. Throughout the 20th century, this hidden lane was home to luminaries like Gaston Lachaise and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.
It's one of the most photographed private lanes in Greenwich Village, offering a quiet escape from the city's noise. Since the 1950s, NYU has used the former stables for housing and offices, but the artistic spirit of the mews lingers. It's a reminder that some of New York's most important creative work happens in the quietest, most unexpected corners.
Updated June 2026