42nd Street Barracks (New York City) — 1970s to mid-1980s
Hidden in plain sight in the heart of Times Square’s pre-Disney grit, the 42nd Street Barracks was one of New York’s most infamous gay bathhouses, operating during the raw, electric years of post-Stonewall liberation. Part military fantasy, part urban labyrinth, it drew a mix of locals, sailors, tourists, hustlers, and downtown regulars, all converging in a space that felt worlds away from the straight crowds just outside its doors.
Like many bathhouses of the era, the Barracks was more than a place to hook up — it was a social crossroads, a refuge, and a symbol of sexual freedom at a time when queer life was still largely pushed underground. Its existence captured a fleeting moment when 42nd Street was dangerous, decadent, and defiantly alive, before the AIDS crisis and city crackdowns reshaped the landscape.
