Archive | History

The Underground Railroad in New York City

Harriet Tubman Memorial

The Underground Railroad, a network of safe havens that helped American slaves escape captivity, ran directly through New York City.  In fact, the New York stops were an important junction on the journey to liberty.  In dozens of homes, churches and businesses throughout the city, brave New Yorkers helped thousands of African American slaves escape […]

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George Washington’s New York

Washington Federal Hall

New York City was the scene of some of Washington’s greatest military trials and political triumphs. Washington called the city “a post of infinite importance”—and he may even have coined the term “New Yorker”. So it comes as no surprise that several important sites associated with Washington’s life and career are in New York City, […]

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The Lower East Side: Exploring Lower Manhattan’s Hot ‘Hood

Ludlow Street, NYC

America is a “melting pot,” and New York’s Lower East Side? The heart of the cauldron. For two centuries, the neighborhood has been the crowded, chaotic home to wave after wave of immigrants. The energy of the new arrivals infused the teeming streets, and the culture that developed on the Lower East Side profoundly changed […]

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Italians of New York City

Little Italy's Feast of San Gennaro, NYC

New York has been called “the Italian American capital” because it is home to the largest Italian American population in the U.S.  There are Italian communities in all five boroughs of the city, most with deep roots in their area.  Italians helped build the modern city and have made a profound impact on NYC’s arts, […]

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The Great Gatsby: A Tale of New York City

Great Gatsby Book cover

Thanks to the new Great Gatsby movie, all things Gatsby have taken over New York. But The Great Gatsby was a New York Tale long before Baz Luhrmann reworked F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece for the screen. (In fact, Gatz, a minimalist, theatrical 6.5-hour reading of the entire novel, sold out its run of performances… twice). What is it about […]

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Building the Empire State Building: The Daredevil Sky Boys

Building the Empire State Building? Not an easy task. After all, this “Eighth Wonder of the World,” an Art Deco marvel towering over midtown Manhattan, was the world’s tallest building for over 40 years! The only thing as impressive as the Empire State Building… are the men who built it! The Empire State Building was […]

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Edgar Allan Poe, Master of Macabre…and New Yorker

Edgar Allen Poe Brady portrait

Edgar Allan Poe wasn’t just a poet and writer of macabre masterpieces: He also was a New Yorker! Known as America’s first great lyric poet, Poe is often associated with Richmond, Virginia and Baltimore. But he moved to New York City at 22, eager to make his fortune. And the city became the home of […]

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