The Inaugural Mumford Award was held Wednesday, October 9, 2024

at the Church of St. Matthew and St. Timothy, 26 W. 84th Street

A landmark designed by architect Victor F. Christ-Janer

Read about that evening and our recipient, Andrew Dolkart HERE

& Check back in the Summer of 2025 for our next honoree!

The Mumford Award is LANDMARK WEST!’s new signature award named for the New York-based urban thinker, sociologist, historian, and critic Lewis Mumford (1895-1990), an influential and prolific writer and commentator on the culture and histories of cities and modern life.  The award annually recognizes an individual dedicated to the urban environment of New York City.   Whether by promoting understanding or advancing innovation and improvement, this individual’s efforts celebrate the city and prompt discourse and debate. 

Lewis Mumford (10/1895 – 1/1990) was an esteemed American urban thinker, sociologist, historian and critic who was recognized as an urban writer. Born in Flushing, Mumford spent many of his formative years on the Upper West Side, in a flats building on 94th Street or in a rowhouse in the San Juan Hill neighborhood. Raised by his mother, grandparents and the City itself, after graduating from Stuyvesant High School in 1912, he studied at the City College of New York and The New School. He served in the Navy and, after being discharged, would proceed to author nearly 30 books and be recognized as the author of The New Yorker‘s long-standing Skyline column.