There are 250 art galleries, nearly as many restaurants, and over a hundred stores packed into Soho’s quarter of a square mile. There are four important museums in Soho, including the Museum for African Art, the New Museum of Contemporary Art, the Alternative Museum, and the New York Fire Museum.

The New York Fire Museum on Spring Street has become a popular place to pay respects to the heroes of September 11. It’s nostalgic displays include collections of hand-pulled and horse-drawn apparatus, fire engines, fireboat equipment, firefightiers’ clothing and other firefighter-related objects from the 18th century right up to today.

Soho is famous for its buildings with cast iron fronts. These structures, built as warehouses and factories, have been converted into lofts and are popular with artists and sculptors who value large spaces. The neighborhood, located south of Houston (that’s pronounced HOW-ston) and north of Canal streets, attracts residents who value an off-beat existence.

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