Groups Release 3D Model of 1969 Stonewall Inn
A new digital model recreates the historic bar as it appeared during the 1969 uprising in New York City.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in LGBTQ+
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The NYC LGBTQ Historic Sites Project and Making Gay History have launched a 3D digital model of the Stonewall Inn as it existed in 1969. The project aims to provide a precise visual resource of the bar's layout during the historic Stonewall Uprising.
Why it matters
The model serves as an educational tool for the public to better understand the bar's original configuration. Creators developed the project to preserve history following recent federal government interference with the Stonewall National Monument.
The digital model reconstructs the interior of 53 Christopher St. based on archival floor plans, oral histories, and photography. The bar, which was controlled by the Mafia in 1969, previously spanned both 51 and 53 Christopher St.
The players
NYC LGBTQ Historic Sites Project
This organization identifies, documents, and promotes the recognition of sites associated with the history of LGBTQ people in New York City.
Making Gay History
This organization produces podcasts and archives that bring the history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement to life through primary source audio recordings.
Donald Trump
The current President of the United States who oversaw administrative actions regarding the Stonewall National Monument.
The details
Constructed using ArcGIS technology, the model displays the interior as two separate areas divided by a wall. Exterior signage from the period identified the establishment as a restaurant to conceal its actual operations.
Timeline
1969: The year the digital model depicts the bar's specific configuration.
February 2026: The month the Trump administration removed the Rainbow Flag from the monument.
April 2026: The month the Trump administration formally raised a new Rainbow Flag.
October 30, 2026: The official release date of the 3D digital model.
Culture Shift
This project reflects a growing trend of using digital tools to secure historical narratives in the face of shifting federal management at the Stonewall National Monument. It highlights a move toward community-led digital preservation to ensure history remains accessible.
Residents and visitors can interact with the digital model to explore the historic layout of the bar and the surrounding Christopher Park area. This tool allows the public to gain a deeper understanding of a site that defined the neighborhood's cultural history.
The takeaway
Digital modeling is becoming an essential method for preserving history that is vulnerable to shifting federal policies. Residents can utilize these resources to study the architectural and social realities of civil rights milestones.
Further reading
Learn more about local preservation efforts at the LGBTQ+ section.
More information
To see the reconstruction in detail, view the digital 3D model.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gay City News.
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