This might be the most recognizable landmark in Harlem. The Apollo Theater, or the building that would become it, was opened in 1914 on 125th Street. Originally, it was known as Hurtig & Seamon's New Burlesque Theater. The theater had a strict “whites-only” policy when it opened. It would, however, fall into disrepair and go out of business in the 1930s.

In 1933, the building was purchased by Sidney Cohen, who restored it and reopened it as the Apollo. The new theater catered to the local Black population, originally hosting vaudeville performances. While dealing with competition from other venues, the Apollo merged with the Harlem Opera House. The programming would eventually shift, with Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, and other jazz bands performing as well as launching the career of Ella Fitzgerald.

One of the most famous events at the Apollo is Amateur Night, which began in 1934. In 1976, the theater closed after a slow decline; luckily, it was re-opened later that year. The Apollo underwent restorations in the 2000s, with the interior being refurbished in 2001 and the exterior in 2005. The theater is a rare double landmark, with both its interior and exterior receiving designations on June 28th, 1983.