History

Kimlau War Memorial becomes NYC’s first landmark related to Chinese American history

Photo by Ken Lund on Flickr

June 22, 2021

Kimlau War Memorial becomes NYC’s first landmark related to Chinese American history

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New York City gained its first landmark related to Chinese American history and culture on Tuesday. The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate the Kimlau War Memorial, a tribute to Chinese American veterans located in Chinatown. Designed by architect Poy Gum Lee, the memorial honors Americans of Chinese descent who died during World War II and has served as a gathering place for veterans.
Details this way
The meaning behind every New York City borough flag

The New York City flag, photo via Wikimedia Commons

June 14, 2021

The meaning behind every New York City borough flag

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The United States celebrates Flag Day as a way to remember the adoption of the country’s first official flag on June 14, 1777. Later in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that established June 14 as Flag Day. While all of us honor the American flag today, each borough in New York City has its own flag that can be celebrated. The city of New York also has its own flag, which features the colors of blue, white, and orange and has the city's seal on the front. The colors are derived from the flag of the Dutch Republic as used in New Amsterdam in 1625.
Get the scoop on the borough flags
Historic mansion in Park Slope asking $30M could set record in Brooklyn

All listing photos courtesy of Ryan Lahiff/Rise Media

June 3, 2021

Historic mansion in Park Slope asking $30M could set record in Brooklyn

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The Park Slope mansion owned by the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture for the last 75 years has hit the market for $30 million. If sold for the asking price, the property would set a record for the most expensive home sale in the borough. Located at 53 Prospect Park West, the grand four-story building boasts 5,724 square feet of interior space and a landscaped outdoor space nearly double that size, which the listing describes as the "largest private garden in Brooklyn."
Get the details
Effort continues to restore New York’s Titanic Memorial Lighthouse to its original 1913 condition

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1915). Seamen’s Church Institute of New York, 25 South Street

April 26, 2021

Effort continues to restore New York’s Titanic Memorial Lighthouse to its original 1913 condition

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The campaign to landmark and restore the Titanic Memorial Lighthouse, a monument in New York City built in 1913 to honor those who died aboard the Titanic, continues. Designed by Warren and Wetmore, the architecture firm behind Grand Central Terminal, the 60-foot-tall lighthouse originally sat atop the roof of the Seamen's Church Institute and featured a working time ball that dropped down the pole each day, along with a green light. Preservationists are now raising funds that would help restore the lighthouse, currently located at the entrance to the South Street Seaport, to its original condition.
More here
20 underground and secret NYC attractions you need to check out
April 13, 2021

20 underground and secret NYC attractions you need to check out

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While visiting the major, most popular attractions of New York City can be fun, it can also be stressful, overwhelming and full of selfie-taking tourists. However, the great thing about the Big Apple is that plenty of other attractions exist that are far less known or even hidden in plain sight. To go beyond the tourist-filled sites and tour the city like you're seeing it for the very first time, check out 6sqft's list ahead of the 20 best underground, secret spots in New York City.
More this way
The history behind NYC’s iconic Anthora coffee cups

Photo via banjo d’s Flickr

April 7, 2021

The history behind NYC’s iconic Anthora coffee cups

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In a city full of symbolism, from bright yellow taxis to black-and-white cookies, New Yorkers also find comfort and nostalgia in a certain cardboard coffee cup. Known as the Anthora, the blue-and-white drinking vessel first became an icon of New York City in 1963 when Leslie Buck, a Czech-American immigrant, designed the first-ever to-go coffee cup to appeal to Greek-owned coffee shops and diners. With its customer-friendly “We Are Happy to Serve You” inscription and Greek-style letters, the Anthora has now become an important part of the city's identity.
The whole history here
It was illegal to play baseball in NYC on Sunday until 1919

1912 World Series at the Polo Grounds. Image via Wikimedia Commons

April 1, 2021

It was illegal to play baseball in NYC on Sunday until 1919

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Baseball may be a long-standing tradition in New York City, but not so very long ago that seemingly innocent pastime was illegal on Sundays. As one of the infamous "blue laws" on the state books–that other beloved NYC pastime, shopping, was illegal as well–the ban was part of a sweeping statute from colonial times called the Statute for Suppressing Immorality. Enacted in 1778, it was the first state "Sabbath law." Section 2145 of the revised New York State Penal code of 1787 outlawed all public sports on Sunday–so as not to "interrupt the repose of the Sabbath"–and wasn't repealed until 1919.
No movies, either
Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the women who fought for labor reform

“Mourners from the Ladies Waist and Dressmakers Union Local 25 and the United Hebrew Trades of New York march in the streets after the Triangle fire” 1911. Reproduction. The National Archives, via Wikimedia Commons

March 25, 2021

Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the women who fought for labor reform

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Around 4:30 p.m. on March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the eighth floor of the Asch Building at Washington Place and Greene Streets, just as the young employees of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, who occupied the building’s top three floors, were preparing to leave for the day. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire killed 146 people, nearly all of them Jewish and Italian immigrant women and girls who toiled in the city’s garment industry. Triangle stood out as the deadliest workplace tragedy in New York City before 9/11. It served as a bellwether in the American labor movement, galvanizing Americans in all walks of life to join the fight for industrial reform. It also highlighted the extraordinary grit and bravery of the women workers and reformers – members of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, and the Women’s Trade Union League – who fought and died for fairer and safer working conditions in New York and around the country.
Find out the whole history
NYC reburies remains of early New Yorkers in Washington Square Park

All photos: NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

March 3, 2021

NYC reburies remains of early New Yorkers in Washington Square Park

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The New York City Parks Department on Tuesday reinterred the human remains of early New Yorkers found during construction in and around Washington Square Park. The skeletal remains were placed in a wooden box and buried five feet below grade within a planting bed, with an engraved paver marking the site at the southern entrance of the park near Sullivan Street. The remains were uncovered between 2008 and 2017, including the unearthing of two 19th-century burial vaults in 2015 that held the remains of at least a dozen people.
Find out more
Campaign to save Union Square South sites connected to women’s history continues

Screenshot of Women’s History Tour map; Courtesy of Village Preservation

March 1, 2021

Campaign to save Union Square South sites connected to women’s history continues

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On the first day of Women's History Month, a preservation group is renewing calls to landmark nearly two dozen sites related to women's history in New York City. Village Preservation on Monday kicked off a campaign effort urging the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate several buildings located south of Union Square that have a connection to trailblazing women, organizations, or historic events. It's part of the group's broader effort to protect nearly 200 buildings in the area which is slated for new development.
Find out more
Jersey City announces $72M restoration of historic Loew’s Theatre

All renderings courtesy of OTJ Architects

February 23, 2021

Jersey City announces $72M restoration of historic Loew’s Theatre

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Jersey City has reached a $72 million deal with the operator of the Prudential Center to transform the historic Loew's Wonder Theatre into a modern 3,300-seat venue. Mayor Steven Fulop on Monday announced a partnership with Devils Arena Entertainment to renovate the nearly 100-year-old theater that once operated as an opulent entertainment destination when it opened in 1929 and was nearly demolished in the 1980s, but was saved by a grassroots preservation effort. The city sees the restoration of Loew's as part of a broader revitalization of the transit-friendly Journal Square neighborhood, where multiple mixed-use towers are in the works.
More here
The wild and dark history of the Empire State Building
February 18, 2021

The wild and dark history of the Empire State Building

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Known for its record-breaking height and sophisticated Art Deco style, the Empire State Building is one of New York City’s, if not the world's, most recognized landmarks. While the building is often used in popular culture as light-natured fodder—such as the opening backdrop to your favorite cookie-cutter rom-com or the romantic meeting spot for star-crossed lovers—the building's past is far more ominous than many of us realize. From failed suicide attempts to accidental plane crashes, its history casts a vibrant lineup of plot-lines and characters spanning the past 90 years.
Read about the dark side of the empire state building
Mapping the NYC landmarks and historic districts related to Black history

Screenshot courtesy of NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

February 10, 2021

Mapping the NYC landmarks and historic districts related to Black history

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The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday released an interactive story map that explores significant buildings, districts, and sites in New York City that are related to Black history and culture. The project highlights 75 individual landmarks and 33 historic districts associated with African American figures and historical events across the five boroughs dating to before the Civil War up to today, from the African Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan to the East 25th Street Historic District in Flatbush.
Find out more
In 1944, the New York Times popularized ‘pizza’

Photo of Patsy’s pizza by Patrick Woodward, via Wikimedia Commons

February 9, 2021

In 1944, the New York Times popularized ‘pizza’

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Though pizza aficionados know that Gennaro Lombardi is credited with opening the country's first pizzeria in 1905 in Little Italy, it wasn't until the WIII years, that the popular food gained mainstream recognition. On September 20, 1944, it's said that the New York Times first popularized the word "pizza" to those outside of the Italian-American community. From there, other media stories followed and a true pizza frenzy kicked off.
The rest of the pizza history here
In New York’s tenement days, Monday was laundry day

“A Mondy washing.” Image from the Library of Congress, Detroit Photographic Co., via Wikimedia Commons

February 8, 2021

In New York’s tenement days, Monday was laundry day

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The image of New York's old tenements is hardly complete without lines of laundry hanging between each building. Like today, doing laundry was a public endeavor for most New Yorkers. But unlike today, they depended on their building's laundry lines to dry everything out. Ephemeral New York notes that Monday was typically the chosen day to get it done. As the photo caption says above, full lines of laundry were evident of "A Monday’s Washing." Monday was known as a "hard wash-day" that required incredible effort from the women of the tenements.
See historic photos of laundry day
The best ways to celebrate Black History Month 2021 in NYC

“Alphas Hold the Line.” Photo by Michael Young. 

February 4, 2021

The best ways to celebrate Black History Month 2021 in NYC

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During the month of February, the nation observes Black History Month as a way to celebrate and honor African American history and culture. While this year's commemoration will be different because of the pandemic, many New York City organizations and institutions are hosting virtual events, lectures, and exhibitions. Learn about the achievements and influence of Black Americans with an online walking tour featuring Black artists of Greenwich Village, a concert honoring composers of the Harlem Renaissance, a class on Black archaeology in New York City, and much more.
Get the full list
Historic Village Cigars building will be sold

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim via Flickr cc

February 3, 2021

Historic Village Cigars building will be sold

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Not only is the building that houses Village Cigars iconic for its oft-photographed location the corner of 7th Avenue South and Christopher Street, but because on the sidewalk out front is Hess Triangle, once the smallest piece of private land in New York City. Real Estate Weekly spoke with current owner Jonathan Posner, who said, "The pandemic has detrimentally impacted the property’s retail income and the expense of operating the building continues unabated." Sources tell REW that it will be sold for around $5.5 million.
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19th-century abolitionist home in Downtown Brooklyn is now a city landmark

227 Duffield Street; Map data © 2020 Google

February 2, 2021

19th-century abolitionist home in Downtown Brooklyn is now a city landmark

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The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate a Brooklyn property that was home to known abolitionists, likely saving it from demolition. Harriet and Thomas Truesdell, members of the anti-slavery movement before the Civil War, lived at the Greek-Revival row house at 227 Duffield Street from 1851 to 1863. The commission recommended 227 Duffield for designation because it represents a rare surviving home to known abolitionists and marks Brooklyn's pre-Civil War abolitionist movement. The push for landmarking the site was accelerated in 2019 when a developer filed permits to raze the three-story structure and replace it with a much taller mixed-use building.
Learn more
The Blizzard of 1888: The biggest snowstorm to ever hit NYC

Pierpont Street from Fulton Street in Brooklyn. Photo via Library of Congress

January 26, 2021

The Blizzard of 1888: The biggest snowstorm to ever hit NYC

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With snow in the forecast for much of the week, we decided to take a look back at the biggest blizzard to ever blanket New York City. On March 12th of 1888, a record-setting 21 inches of snow had been dumped on the city, resulting in snowdrifts of up to 50 feet, $25 million in property damage, and 200 deaths. Known as the "Great Blizzard," it affected the entire eastern seaboard and is still considered one of the worst snowstorms in American history.
Learn more
The first presidential inauguration was held in New York City in 1789

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

January 20, 2021

The first presidential inauguration was held in New York City in 1789

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One of the nation's most significant Inauguration Days has finally come, and while we're all looking forward, we also thought it was pertinent to take a look back. On Thursday, April 30, 1789, the first United States Congress met, and the first president was sworn in (the presidential term had already started on March 4 of that year, but logistical delays had kept the votes from being counted or certified). With a quorum finally in place, George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States, alongside Vice President John Adams, on the balcony of the Federal Hall in what is now the Financial District.
The whole history here
New York City’s tributes to Martin Luther King Jr.

Stanziola, P. (1964) Mayor Wagner greets Dr. & Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. at City Hall / World-Telegram & Sun photo by Phil Stanziola. 1964. [Photograph]; Courtesy of the Library of Congress

January 15, 2021

New York City’s tributes to Martin Luther King Jr.

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While some of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s most memorable moments of his career happened further South, like the Montgomery bus boycott and his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, support for his goals hailed first from advocacy organizations based in New York City, like the National Urban League. King held sermons at Riverside Church in Morningside Heights, led a march from Central Park to the United Nations in protest of the Vietnam War, and received a Medallion of Honor from Mayor Robert Wagner. As a way to honor King and his immense impact on the advancement of civil rights, the city has named streets, parks, playgrounds, and more after the icon. On MLK Day this Monday, celebrate by learning about memorials dedicated to him citywide.
Learn more about NYC's MLK memorials here
Before Times Square: Celebrating New Year’s in old New York

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1878). New-Year’S-Day In New Amsterdam. Courtesy of NYPL Digital Collections

December 30, 2020

Before Times Square: Celebrating New Year’s in old New York

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Every year on December 31, the eyes of the world turn to Times Square. New Yorkers and revelers worldwide have been ringing in the New Year from 42nd Street since 1904 when Adolf Ochs christened the opening of the New York Times building on what was then Longacre Square with a New Year's celebration complete with midnight fireworks. In 1907, Ochs began dropping a ball from the flagpole of the Times Tower, and a tradition for the ages was set in motion. But long before Ochs and his proclivity for pyrotechnics, New Yorkers had been ringing in the New Year with traditions both dignified and debauched. From the George Washington and the old Dutch custom of “Calling,” to the rancorous tooting of tin horns, one thing is clear, New York has always gone to town for the New Year.
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Lighting of ‘world’s largest’ menorahs mark the first night of Hanukkah in NYC

Manhattan’s Menorah being lit by Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, in 2016. Credit: Credit: Chaim Perl / Chabad.org/ Chabad Lubavitch/Flickr.

December 10, 2020

Lighting of ‘world’s largest’ menorahs mark the first night of Hanukkah in NYC

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In the mid-1970s, former Chabad Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson encouraged his emissaries to build public menorahs in major cities and organize nightly lightings to increase public awareness about Hanukkah and inspire fellow Jews to light menorahs in their homes. Decades later, Chabad rabbis continue the effort in cities worldwide, but in New York, the practice hasn’t always been friendly. The tradition ended up creating a fun competition between rival menorahs in Brooklyn and Manhattan, both claiming to be "The World’s Largest." To mark the first night of Hanukkah on Thursday, both of New York City's 32-foot-tall menorahs will be lighted.
Find out the story and learn about this year's lightings
How NYC brought Christmas tree markets to the U.S.

A Christmas tree market in front of the Barclay Street Station circa 1895. Photo via the Library of Congress

December 3, 2020

How NYC brought Christmas tree markets to the U.S.

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The convenience of walking to the corner bodega and haggling for a Christmas tree is something most of us take for granted, but this seasonal industry is one that actually predates Christmas’ 1870 establishment as a national holiday and continues to be a one-of-a-kind business model today. In fact, in 1851, a tree stand set up for $1 at the west side's Washington Market became the nation's very first public Christmas tree market, the impetus behind it being a way to save New Yorkers a trip out of town to chop down their own trees. Ahead, find out the full history of this now-national trend and how it's evolved over the years.
The roots of the Christmas tree industry
NYC AIDS Memorial debuts powerful sound installation for World AIDS Day

Photo: John Moore, Circular Space Photography

December 1, 2020

NYC AIDS Memorial debuts powerful sound installation for World AIDS Day

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The voices of New Yorkers affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic will be heard daily as part of a new program installed in Greenwich Village. In recognition of World AIDS Day on Tuesday, the New York City AIDS Memorial will launch a sound-based installation composed of speeches, poetry, music, and readings of texts related to the history of the epidemic. The hour-long program, titled Hear Me: Voices of the Epidemic, will be broadcast from the memorial nightly at 7 p.m. for the month of December, along with a new lighting installation.
More here
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