when the american revolution was happening, john morin scott owned the land. scott was in the army, which was led by george washington. during the early 1800s, john jacob astor bought the land, then built houses and hotels for the rich on the land. by 1872, carriages were mainly made in longacre. the city government named the area longacre square after long acre, a place in london where carriages were also made. soon after, broadway theaters were created around longacre square.