Harlem YMCA



The Harlem YMCA on West 135th Street is a significant landmark of black culture in New York City. It opened in 1933 intended primarily for the use of African-American men, and was at the time one of the best equipped YMCAs in the United States. Architect James C. MacKenzie, Jr. designed and supervised the construction.

Many notable black Americans have stayed at the facility, including Malcolm X (then Malcolm Little, who chose to stay there because of its close proximity to his favorite nightclubs). Inside, the building boasts a mural by Aaron Douglas titled "Evolution of Negro Dance."