Historic Five Points

In the 19th century, Five Points was a notorious slum in Lower Manhattan that existed from about 1820 to 1885. The name comes from the intersection of several streets that formed five corners, and Mulberry Street was also part of the area. The site was originally home to Collect Pond, a freshwater reservoir that became contaminated by sewage. After the pond was filled in in 1811, the land remained swampy and unhealthy, which made it a source of cheap housing for the growing number of immigrants. The Irish, who poured into the city during the Great Famine, were especially drawn to the neighborhood. The area quickly turned into a high-crime slum ruled by various gangs.

Historically, the neighborhood is best known for the serious unrest that began here, including the Draft Riots of 1863. Five Points is also considered the birthplace of American tap dance, which grew out of a blending of African and Irish dance styles. Famous figures such as Charles Dickens visited the neighborhood and wrote with shock about the living conditions there. Today, nothing remains of the former slum. In its place stand public parks such as Columbus Park and Collect Pond Park, along with municipal government buildings and courthouses. Part of the area now belongs to Chinatown. Archaeological excavations in the 1990s turned up numerous finds, but most of them were lost in the attacks of September 11, 2001.