History

Amazing archival photos show New York City in the 1940s and ’50s

“Bar Scene” Village Preservation (GVSHP) Image Archive

October 7, 2020

Amazing archival photos show New York City in the 1940s and ’50s

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Nonprofit advocacy and educational organization Village Preservation is well known for many things, one of which is its historic image archive. Their newest addition is the Jean Polacheck Collection, which dates largely from the 1940s through the mid-1950s, and includes scenes of Washington Square Park, the interior of clubs and restaurants, and other NYC street scenes. Ahead, step back in time with a sneak peek of some of these wonderfully illustrative photos and learn about the woman behind them.
See more here
See inside the secret train track hidden in the depths of Grand Central Terminal

Image © Emily Nonko for 6sqft

September 25, 2020

See inside the secret train track hidden in the depths of Grand Central Terminal

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The iconic Grand Central Terminal is a building with more than a few secrets. Constructed in 1913 with the wealth of the Vanderbilt family, there was a lavish private office (now known as The Campbell Apartment), glass catwalks, a hidden spiral staircase, and even artists' studios on an upper floor. One of the most infamous secrets of the terminal, however, was a secret track used specifically for a president to access one of the most famous hotels in the world. Known as Track 61, it leads to a special platform that was never used or intended to be used in regular passenger service—it just happened to be in the right place.
Keep reading about Grand Central's secret track
Manhattan’s 13th Avenue takes claim as the shortest avenue in the entire city

1885 map showing 13th Avenue, via the New York Public Library

September 11, 2020

Manhattan’s 13th Avenue takes claim as the shortest avenue in the entire city

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You may be scratching your head at the mention of the 13th Avenue in Manhattan, but it does exist--and it's the shortest avenue in the whole city with a fascinating history behind it. The minuscule stretch covers prime Meatpacking District real estate, just west of 11th Avenue and between Little West 12th Street and Gansevoort Street. The single block across the West Side Highway is unmarked, but officially known as Gansevoort Peninsula. The avenue was created by the city in 1837, and in no way was intended to be so short. In fact, by the mid-1800s 13th Avenue encompassed nearly 15 blocks and was planned to stretch all the way up to 135th Street. But the block never left Chelsea and was mostly destroyed by the city at the turn of the century.
Read all about the life and death of the Avenue
356 years ago, New Amsterdam became New York City

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris’s painting “The Fall of New Amsterdam, which shows New Amsterdam residents begging Peter Stuyvesant to surrender to the British. Via The Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

September 8, 2020

356 years ago, New Amsterdam became New York City

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On September 8th, 1664, Dutch Director-General Peter Stuyvesant surrendered New Amsterdam to the British, officially establishing New York City. To take part in the fur trade, settlers from the Dutch West India Company first established the colony of New Netherland in 1624, which would eventually grow to include all present-day boroughs, Long Island, and even parts of New Jersey. The following year, the island of Manhattan, then the capital, was named New Amsterdam. But when Stuyvesant's 17-year run as Governor (from 1647 to 1664) turned unfavorable, he ceded the island to England's Colonel Richard Nicolls, who had sent four ships with 450 men to seize the Dutch Colony. The name was promptly changed to honor the Duke of York and his mission.
Get the whole history
U Thant Island: Manhattan’s smallest island that’s off limits to the public

Photo via Wiki Commons

September 3, 2020

U Thant Island: Manhattan’s smallest island that’s off limits to the public

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Between the United Nations building and Long Island City sits a tiny 100-by-200 foot piece of land, known as U Thant Island. The East River man-made enclave is just south of Roosevelt Island and legally part of Manhattan. As Atlas Obscura discovered, the land did not exist until the 1800s when a trolley tunnel was dug beneath the River to connect Manhattan and Queens. While U Thant looks like a nice place to get some sun and relax, the island remains closed to the public as a bird sanctuary.
Find out more
Why is New York’s Houston Street pronounced ‘How-stun?’

Photo by Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons

August 31, 2020

Why is New York’s Houston Street pronounced ‘How-stun?’

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One of the surest ways to know an out-of-towner is if they pronounce it "HUE-stun" instead of "HOW-stun" Street. But have you ever wondered why we don't say it like the Texas city? The Times received this question from a reader and turned to Gerard Koeppel's book "City on a Grid: How New York Became New York" for the answer. According to Koeppel, "Houston the city is named after Sam Houston. Our street was named after a fellow named William Houstoun, who was a prominent Georgian, from a long line of Scotsmen."
The whole history right this way
Inside the stunning, abandoned City Hall subway station

Photo © James and Karla Murray

August 25, 2020

Inside the stunning, abandoned City Hall subway station

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When the New York City subway opened on October 27th, 1904, it was the magnificent City Hall station that served as the backdrop for the festivities, with its arched Guastavino-tiled ceiling and skylights. But by 1945, the newer, longer subway cars could no longer fit on the station's curved tracks, so it was closed. Today, the New York City Transit Museum occasionally offers tours of the abandoned station, which is how photographers James and Karla Murray were able to capture these beautiful photos. Ahead, see more of the station and learn all about its history.
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Inside the graffiti-covered 191st Street tunnel, NYC’s deepest subway and only underground ‘street’

All photos and video © James and Karla Murray

August 17, 2020

Inside the graffiti-covered 191st Street tunnel, NYC’s deepest subway and only underground ‘street’

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The deepest subway station in New York City lies 173 feet below ground (18 stories!) at the 191st Street stop of the 1 train. This stop is also known for the 1,000-foot-long tunnel that connects its station at St. Nicholas Avenue to an entrance on Broadway. Called "Tunnel Street," this is technically the only underground street in the city. For years, however, it was a dark and dingy passageway that troubled locals, so about six years ago, the city commissioned six artists to paint the tunnel with colorful murals. Ahead, photographers James and Karla Murray give us a video tour of the tunnel, along with the insanely deep subway station.
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New interactive map tells the story of women’s suffrage in Greenwich Village

Screenshot of the 19th Amendment Centennial StoryMap, courtesy of Village Preservation

August 12, 2020

New interactive map tells the story of women’s suffrage in Greenwich Village

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Next week, on August 18th, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Though the fight to give women the right to vote was a national effort, much of the movement had roots in New York City. And like most 20th-century advocacy efforts, a lot of that action was centered downtown. To mark this momentous occasion, Village Preservation has created an interactive 19th Amendment Centennial StoryMap that showcases the remarkable number of people and places in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and Noho that played a key role in the women’s suffrage movement.
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1,500 maps showing 450 years of development in Brooklyn now available online

Created by the Olmsted and Vaux firm, this map shows the original plans for Prospect Park, as well as the historic reservoir at Grand Army Plaza (1871)

July 17, 2020

1,500 maps showing 450 years of development in Brooklyn now available online

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The Center for Brooklyn History, a collaboration between the Brooklyn Historical Society and the Brooklyn Public Library, launched a user-friendly online portal that contains the institution's collection of nearly 1,500 maps of Brooklyn dating back to 1562. While researchers will no doubt appreciate the new accessibility to the unique maps, the tool is also a fun way for all residents of the borough to explore the evolution of their neighborhood over the last four centuries. From rare Revolutionary War maps and original plans for Prospect Park to a subway map detailing how to get to Ebbets Field, the maps span more than 450 years and include transit maps, cultural maps, survey charts, and more.
More this way
Preservation group asks New Yorkers to suggest cultural sites for landmarking

Photo of the Stonewall Inn, a cultural landmark, by NPCA via Flickr cc

July 15, 2020

Preservation group asks New Yorkers to suggest cultural sites for landmarking

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When it comes to landmarking in NYC, some of the biggest news as of late is that the LPC has calendared a building in Downtown Brooklyn that was home to abolitionists before the Civil War. If landmarked, the decision will be based on the structure's cultural merit, not necessarily its historic architecture. And with more and more people realizing the importance of preserving cultural history, the Historic Districts Council is asking New Yorkers to suggest the cultural sites that they believe are worthy of landmark designation.
READ MORE
Before Nathan’s there was Feltman’s: The history of the Coney Island hot dog

Feltman’s via Boston Public Library

July 2, 2020

Before Nathan’s there was Feltman’s: The history of the Coney Island hot dog

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The name Nathan's has become synonymous with Coney Island, whether it be for the annual hot dog-eating contest or the childhood nostalgia of the boardwalk. It's also become arguably the biggest name in the hot dog world in general. But, believe it or not, Nathan's was not the first place to serve up franks in the seaside neighborhood. That distinction goes to Feltman's, which was begun in 1867 as a pushcart by German immigrant Charles Feltman, considered the inventor of the hot dog on a bun.
Find out how the Coney Island hot dog got its start
13 things you didn’t know about the Woolworth Building

The Woolworth Building, then and now. L: Image courtesy of Library of Congress via Wiki cc; r: Image Norbert Nagel via Wiki cc.

June 29, 2020

13 things you didn’t know about the Woolworth Building

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When the neo-Gothic Woolworth Building at 233 Broadway was erected in 1913 as the world’s tallest building, it cost a total of $13.5 million to construct. Though many have surpassed it in height, the instantly-recognizable Lower Manhattan landmark has remained one of the world’s most iconic buildings, admired for its terra cotta facade and detailed ornamentation–and its representation of the ambitious era in which it arose. Developer and five-and-dime store entrepreneur Frank Winfield Woolworth dreamed of an unforgettable skyscraper; the building’s architect, Cass Gilbert, designed and delivered just that, even as Woolworth's vision grew progressively loftier. The Woolworth Building has remained an anchor of New York City life with its storied past and still-impressive 792-foot height.
Find the city's history in the Woolworth Building
Jersey City moves forward with $40M renovation of historic Loew’s Theatre

All photos taken by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft.

June 12, 2020

Jersey City moves forward with $40M renovation of historic Loew’s Theatre

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The historic Loew's Wonder Theatre in Jersey City is finally set to receive the restoration it's waited years for. Built in 1929 by architect George Rapp in a gilded, Baroque-Rococo style, the Loew's Jersey was as a lavish entertainment destination for decades, until it was converted to a triplex movie theater in the '70s and almost faced the wrecking ball in the '80s. But through a grassroots preservation effort, the city bought the theater in 1987, allowing the nonprofit Friends of the Loew’s to begin restoration and operate as a nonprofit arts center. Though the group has made incredible progress, a significant amount of work remains. Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is searching for a commercial operator to help with the $40 million restoration and modernization effort of the 3,000-seat theater.
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Celebrate NYC neighborhoods virtually with Jane’s Walk (from Home)

Courtesy of MAS

April 24, 2020

Celebrate NYC neighborhoods virtually with Jane’s Walk (from Home)

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One of New York City's greatest annual events is going virtual. Jane's Walk honors urbanist Jane Jacobs with free volunteer-led walking tours across the city for one weekend every year. Adapting to the realities of the coronavirus pandemic, the Municipal Art Society (MAS) announced this week plans to host virtual activities that still celebrate the five boroughs, but safely from home.
Find out more
55 years and 37,000 designations later, Landmarks releases anniversary story map

Photo by Cody Nottingham on Unsplash 

April 17, 2020

55 years and 37,000 designations later, Landmarks releases anniversary story map

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Just a few years after the demolition of the original Penn Station, the city founded the Landmarks Preservation Commission, in part, to make sure beautiful historic buildings were never destroyed again. When Mayor Robert Wagner signed the Landmarks Law on April 19, 1965, the commission was officially tasked with protecting sites that represent New York's history and culture. During its 55 years in existence, the LPC has designated more than 37,000 buildings and sites. In honor of this anniversary, the commission this week released an interactive story map highlighting its work over the last five decades, from its first individual landmark, the Claesen Wyckoff House, to its first LGBT designation, the Stonewall Inn.
Explore the map
The 18th-century Yellow Fever pandemic that led to NYC’s first Health Department

“New York, View From South, Man-of-war at Left,” 1793, via NYPL Digital Collections

March 23, 2020

The 18th-century Yellow Fever pandemic that led to NYC’s first Health Department

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A spot of hope amidst the chaos of our current moment is that we will come out stronger, safer, and more prepared than we were before. Historically, that has actually been the case. For example, New York’s 1795 Yellow Fever Pandemic led to the creation of the New York City Board of Health, which in turn became the Metropolitan Board of Health, then the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which helps keep the city healthy to this day. Ahead, we take a closer look at this pandemic, which ebbed and flowed from 1793 to 1805, from quarantines to new hospitals to public data.
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Pubs, parades, and politicians: The Irish legacy of the East Village and Greenwich Village

Photo of White Horse Tavern (bottom left) courtesy of Wikimedia; Photo of the Merchant’s House Museum (bottom right) courtesy of Village Preservation on Flickr

March 10, 2020

Pubs, parades, and politicians: The Irish legacy of the East Village and Greenwich Village

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For many, celebrating Irish American heritage in March brings one to Fifth Avenue for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, or perhaps a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. But for those willing to venture beyond Midtown, there’s a rich Irish American history to be found in Greenwich Village and the East Village. While both neighborhoods became better known for different kinds of communities in later years – Italians, Ukrainians, gay men and lesbians, artists, punks – Irish immigration in the mid-19th century profoundly shaped both neighborhoods. Irish Americans and Irish immigrants played a critical role in building immigrant and artistic traditions in Greenwich Village and the East Village. Here are some sites connected to that great heritage, from the city's oldest intact Catholic Church to Irish institutions like McSorely's Old Ale House.
More here
From sea hospitals to sanatoriums: How NYC has contained contagious diseases over the last century

Sea Breeze Hospital in Coney Island via Library of Congress

March 5, 2020

From sea hospitals to sanatoriums: How NYC has contained contagious diseases over the last century

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At a press conference on Monday about the recent coronavirus cases confirmed in New York City and State, Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio emphasized that this is not New York's "first rodeo" when it comes to pandemics. They pointed to the recent Ebola scare, as well as the 1968 Hong Kong flu and the 2009 Swine Flu, which closed 200 schools across the state. But even long before that, New York has had a gold standard for handling outbreaks of contagious diseases. From managing the flu pandemic of 1918 to the tuberculosis surge at the turn of the 19th century, the city’s public health officials have been containing outbreaks for well over a century. Ahead, we look at some of the ways this done, from quarantines to sea hospitals.
Learn more
Looking back at the Depression-era shanty towns in New York City parks

Squatters Colony, Red Hook Recreation Area, September 12, 1934, Courtesy of NYC Parks

February 26, 2020

Looking back at the Depression-era shanty towns in New York City parks

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Today, New York City’s rising cost of living has made affordable housing one of the most pressing issues of our time. But long before our current housing crisis--and even before the advent of “affordable housing” itself--Depression-era New Yorkers created not only their own homes, but also their own functioning communities, on the city’s parkland. From Central Park to City Island, Redhook to Riverside Park, these tent cities, hard-luck towns, Hoovervilles, and boxcar colonies proliferated throughout New York. Ahead, see some amazing archival photos of these communities and learn the human side of their existence.
Lots more history and photos
Oval Office replica opens at the New-York Historical Society

Photo by Glenn Castellano, New-York Historical Society

February 14, 2020

Oval Office replica opens at the New-York Historical Society

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This Presidents' Day, visit Washington, D.C. without leaving New York City. The New-York Historical Society on Friday opened a special permanent gallery that features a detailed replica of the White House Oval Office. The "Meet the Presidents" exhibit allows visitors to play POTUS for a day, with the classic Resolute Desk set up for photo ops.
See the exhibit
Civil Rights, the NAACP, and W.E.B. DuBois: The African American history tied to 70 Fifth Avenue

Street View of 70 Fifth Avenue, Map data © 2020 Google; Photo of W.E.B. DuBois in 1918 from Library of Congress, via Wikimedia Commons

February 14, 2020

Civil Rights, the NAACP, and W.E.B. DuBois: The African American history tied to 70 Fifth Avenue

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When we think of great African American historic sites in New York, we typically think of Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Lower Manhattan’s African Burial Ground, or Brooklyn’s Weeksville Houses. But one building that should perhaps join the list is 70 Fifth Avenue in Greenwich Village, which housed the headquarters of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization; The Crisis, the first magazine published for an African American audience; and the first magazine dedicated to African American children, meant to combat the commonplace demeaning stereotypes of the time, headed by none other than civil rights icon W.E.B. DuBois.
Learn all this history ahead
Pierogis, borscht, and Ukrainian history: Behind the scenes at East Village restaurant Veselka

All photos taken by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

February 13, 2020

Pierogis, borscht, and Ukrainian history: Behind the scenes at East Village restaurant Veselka

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21,000 pierogis, 2,500 latkes, and 110 gallons of borscht--that's how much Veselka is serving up each week. But it's impossible to quantify how many memories have been made at the famous East Village Ukrainian restaurant, which has been in operation since 1954. Whether it's grandparents who remember going to what was then a small candy shop and newspaper stand at a time when the East Village was a thriving Eastern European community, or counter-culture icons of the 1970s, or club kids of the '90s, or the NYU students of today, you can bet that nearly every New Yorker has some story of enjoying a meal at Veselka. 6sqft recently got a behind-the-scenes tour of Veselka's kitchen to see how the magic happens, in addition to chatting with third-generation owner Jason Birchard. Ahead, check out all the photos and learn about the history of Veselka.
Check it out
Fascinating photos show the 20th-century construction of NYC’s subway system

Lexington Avenue, between 105th and 106th Streets, Manhattan, 1913. Photograph by Pierre P. Pullis, Lundin Collection, Courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

February 13, 2020

Fascinating photos show the 20th-century construction of NYC’s subway system

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A new photo exhibit at the New York Transit Museum provides a unique look at the construction of the city's subway system, as well as its enduring impact. Opening Thursday, Streetscapes & Subways: Photographs by Pierre P. and Granville W. Pullis shows what it was like before and after the subway system was constructed, as well as the architectural and cultural changes occurring simultaneously above ground.
See the photos here
9 patriotic places to spend Presidents’ Day in NYC

Painting of George Washington: Rembrandt Peale, George Washington (1732–1799), 1853, Oil on canvas; New-York Historical Society, Bequest of Caroline Phelps Stokes

February 7, 2020

9 patriotic places to spend Presidents’ Day in NYC

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New York City is rich with presidential history, from hosting the inauguration of the country's first president to being home to Grant's Tomb, the largest mausoleum in North America. Presidents' Day celebrates the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln each year on the third Monday in February. Those who get the day off from work or school can spend the holiday learning about the city's presidential history, from Federal Hall to the Flatiron District. Or, for a more low key (but still patriotic) three-day weekend, eat cake, go bowling, or catch a Commander in Chief-themed comedy show.
Full list, ahead
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