Winter in the City
In case you missed it, winter descended on New York City last week. Freezing temperatures (the coldest in two years), snow, and wind made many New Yorkers remember why they … Continue reading
The Great Crystal Palace Fire of 1858
The New York Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and steel structure completed in 1853 on the site of current day Bryant Park, located between 42nd and 40th streets to the … Continue reading
Brooklyn’s Boweries
A few months ago I attended the Wyckoff House’s country fair, held on the grounds of New York City’s oldest surviving building. The house is an anachronism among the car … Continue reading
The Beecher-Tilton Affair
What do women’s rights, religion, and sex all have in common? The Beecher – Tilton Affair. Henry Ward Beecher was the first minister of the Plymouth Church, in Brooklyn, appointed … Continue reading
The Broadway-Lafayette Transfer and the Evolution of the City’s Subway
By the time you read this, there will have been a major improvement in the subways of New York City. If you don’t ride the B, D, F, or M … Continue reading
The Curse of the Roeblings? The Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic symbols of New York. Try imagining the skyline without the looming Gothic towers. Now try to imagine no bridges over the … Continue reading
Walt Whitman’s New York
Walt Whitman, one of America’s most celebrated writers, was born into a working-class Long Island family on May 31, 1819. Four years later, the family moved to Brooklyn. Whitman cherished … Continue reading
The Prospect Park Concert Grove
As mentioned in May 22nd’s post, Saving the Interior of the Plaza Hotel, New York City isn’t known just for its landmarked buildings, but also its scenic historical sites, as … Continue reading
Penn Station and the Rise of Historic Preservation
After reading Lauren Robinson’s fantastic blog post about the return of Mad Men, I found myself haunted by the destruction of the original Penn Station. And as I dug deeper, … Continue reading
Mott Haven Historic District
The neighborhood of Mott Haven is located in the South Bronx, and is situated on a portion of land historically referred to as Morrisania, named after the powerful Morris family … Continue reading
It’s Toasted: Mad Men and New York City
The digital team is eagerly awaiting the return of Mad Men to television on Sunday, March 25, after a 17-month hiatus. In anticipation of this, we have pulled together an … Continue reading
A Practical Joke of Great Proportions
I recently finished reading The Rector and the Rogue, W. A. Swanberg’s riveting true account of a peculiar situation targeting the Reverend Morgan Dix of Trinity Church over 130 years … Continue reading
How Harlem River Speedway Became Harlem River Drive
Before it was called the Harlem River Drive, the parkway running north and south along the west bank of the Harlem River was called the Harlem River Speedway. Construction began … Continue reading
MCNY Blog: New York Stories 