Viewing NYC Articles Categorized Under History

[WATCH] The Vanderbilts Built Something Under New York in 1899 — And Why Nobody Can Visit

2026-10-10T12:00:00-04:00

This video explores the hidden underground network beneath Grand Central Terminal in New York City, a massive project initiated by the Vanderbilt family in 1899. Initially conceived as a way to electrify rail lines and bury the train yards, the project expanded into a sprawling subterranean 'Terminal City.' This invisible infrastructure includes hidden power stations like M42, which was so secret during WWII that guards had shoot-on-site orders, and private platforms like Track 61, notably used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to discreetly enter and exit the city via the Waldorf Astoria without public visibility. The video reveals how this intricate web of tunnels, passages, and sub-basements connected numerous surrounding buildings, allowing the city's powerful elite to move unseen, and questions why much of this historical network remains undocumented and inaccessible to the public over a century after its construction.

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[VIDEO] How New York City Housing Actually Worked

2026-10-08T12:00:00-04:00

This documentary delves into the historical evolution of housing in New York City, tracing its roots from modest Dutch settlements to the dense metropolis it became. It explains how the 1811 Manhattan grid system initially spurred the popularity of efficient row houses, but a population boom, fueled by the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, led to severe overcrowding. Property owners began to maximize profits by subdividing existing buildings into tiny, airless, and windowless apartments, known as tenements. These "lung blocks," notorious for spreading diseases like tuberculosis, starkly contrasted with the spacious, light-filled homes of the wealthy elite just a few streets away. The video highlights how reformer and photographer Jacob Riis exposed these squalid conditions, leading to public outcry and the eventual passage of the Tenement House Acts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which mandated improvements like running water, indoor toilets, and windows in every room. While many old tenements were torn down, some still stand today, adapted into small studios, reflecting a continuous, albeit less visible, divide in the city's housing landscape.

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[WATCH] This Historic 110-Year-Old NYC Business Is Shutting Down

2026-10-07T12:00:00-04:00

Step inside the final days of American Wood Column Co., a historic family business in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that is closing its doors after 110 years. Owner Thomas Lupo, whose grandfather started the company, reflects on its long legacy, the unique architectural woodworking they've performed using molds over two centuries old, and why it's time to retire. The factory has provided bespoke columns, decorative moldings, and other ornate wooden pieces for countless projects, from Best & Co. department store to sets for Saturday Night Live and even the Corleone grave in The Godfather. Lupo fondly remembers the close-knit neighborhood of his youth and his family's deep connection to the business, which served as a constant throughout his life, and expresses his hope for a graceful closure.

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[VIDEO] What It Was Like Living in a House in New York in 1900

2026-10-06T12:00:00-04:00

This video, using AI reconstruction, offers a glimpse into daily life in New York City in 1900, just two years after its five boroughs were consolidated. It contrasts the opulent, electrified mansions of Fifth Avenue with the crowded, windowless tenement bedrooms of the Lower East Side. The documentary explores the intricate details of tenement life, including "railroad flats," cold-water taps, cast-iron coal ranges, wooden iceboxes, and shared water closets, where a quarter of a million Jewish, Italian, Irish, and German immigrants resided. It highlights the work of journalist Jacob Riis, whose photographs in How the Other Half Lives exposed these conditions. The video also covers the middle-class brownstone rowhouses of Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, and the Upper West Side, detailing their domestic staff and the emerging "national cuisine." It visits bustling locations like the pushcart markets of Hester Street, German bakeries in Kleindeutschland near Tompkins Square, and oyster cellars on Canal Street, showcasing the city's diverse foodscape. The film concludes on the cusp of the New Tenement House Act of 1901, foreseeing the electrification and modernization that would transform New York's domestic interiors and urban landscape.

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[VIDEO] Why the Bronx Zoo is unlike any other zoo in America

2026-10-03T12:00:00-04:00

Discover the unique story of the Bronx Zoo in this revealing documentary. Hidden in plain sight within New York City, this institution is not just a place to see animals; it's a global leader in wildlife conservation. The video explores its origins more than a century ago, highlighting the vision of pioneers like William Temple Hornaday, and its pivotal role in protecting endangered species, such as the American bison, from extinction. Home to approximately 11,000 animals across 600 species, this urban oasis offers a rare opportunity to experience wildlife in naturalistic habitats. The film also delves into the Wildlife Conservation Society's broader impact, overseeing five parks across New York City's boroughs and operating conservation programs in over 50 countries worldwide. From its historic Rainey Memorial Gates to its groundbreaking educational initiatives and ongoing rescue efforts, the Bronx Zoo stands as a testament to how a zoo can be a world within a city, leaving a lasting legacy in wildlife protection and research.

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[VIDEO] The Abandoned Remains of Brooklyn’s Forgotten Elevated Subway Route

2026-09-28T12:00:00-04:00

This video delves into the forgotten history of Brooklyn's Fulton Street Elevated, focusing on the Atlantic Avenue Elevated station in East New York. Once a crucial transfer hub, it connected the Canarsie and Fulton Elevated lines with the underground Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Atlantic Branch. Over decades, starting in the 1940s, this once-robust infrastructure was progressively decommissioned, with the Fulton Elevated replaced by the IND subway and many tracks removed or left unused, leaving the station in a state of decay. The video provides historical aerial views and current footage, showcasing the desolate platforms and the remnants of its former grandeur, as well as an abandoned LIRR substation in the vicinity. Despite its blighted appearance, there's discussion of potential future reopening with the proposed IBX route.

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[WATCH] Inside the Crown Jewel of Queens: Tour of Corona, NYC

2026-09-27T12:00:00-04:00

Tom Delgado takes viewers on a comprehensive historical tour of Corona, Queens, highlighting its diverse communities and development. The tour starts by showcasing the area's suburban roots with a visit to the 1871-built Edward E. Sanford House. Delgado then delves into the influence of various immigrant groups, including the Jewish population who established the Tifereth Israel Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Queens. He explores the rich African-American history, notably discussing jazz legend Louis Armstrong, whose home is now the Louis Armstrong House Museum. The video also covers the significant Italian presence, featuring iconic spots like the Lemon Ice King of Corona and the mob-connected Park Side Restaurant, and the shift towards a predominantly Latino population, as seen in St. Leo's Catholic Church services and local businesses. Transportation infrastructure, including the Queensboro Bridge and the 7 train, played a crucial role in Corona's growth. Delgado concludes the tour at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, discussing its transformation from the "Valley of Ashes" into a World's Fair site by Robert Moses.

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[VIDEO] Madison Square Garden: The Knicks’ Famous But Complicated Arena

2026-09-25T12:00:00-04:00

Madison Square Garden (MSG) is renowned globally as a premier venue for sports and entertainment, but its story is deeply intertwined with New York City's urban fabric. Opened in 1968, the current MSG sits atop Penn Station, a location that has historically been both its greatest strength due to unparalleled transit access and its most significant challenge, sparking ongoing debates about urban planning and its future. The arena has been the long-standing home of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, hosting iconic moments like the Knicks' 1970 and 1973 NBA Championships and the Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup victory. Beyond team sports, MSG has also been a legendary stage for major boxing matches, the annual Big East Tournament in college basketball, and countless concerts by music legends. Despite undergoing significant renovations in the early 1990s and a massive $1 billion transformation from 2011-2013, the building's underlying 1960s structure and its complex relationship with the busy transportation hub beneath continue to fuel discussions among city officials, planners, and architects about whether the "World's Most Famous Arena" should eventually relocate.

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[WATCH] The Dark Secrets Behind The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's Most Famous Exhibits

2026-09-22T12:00:00-04:00

The documentary The Dark Secrets Behind The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's Most Famous Exhibits delves into the hidden histories of several renowned artifacts housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It uncovers the scandalous tale of the Diana statue, linked to the "Trial of the Century" involving architect Stanford White, socialite Evelyn Nesbitt, and the murder by Harry Thaw at Madison Square Garden. The video also examines Henry VIII's final suit of armor, revealing medical evidence suggesting his transformation into a tyrant after a jousting accident. Further investigations explore the mysterious power of the Temple of Dendur, the true nature of the Antioch Chalice (once believed to be the Holy Grail), and the Nazi-looted Manuscript of the Apocalypse displayed at The Cloisters. The film also highlights the Met's surprising contribution to designing modern military helmets and body armor during the World Wars, showcasing how ancient medieval technology influenced 20th-century warfare.

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[WATCH] Robert Caro on how Robert Moses infrastructure projects fueled discrimination

2026-09-18T12:00:00-04:00

Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Robert Caro shares insights from his research into Robert Moses, particularly how the "master builder" utilized public works to perpetuate discrimination. Caro explains how Moses intentionally designed infrastructure like the low bridges on parkways leading to Jones Beach State Park to prevent public transit, such as buses, from reaching the popular bathing spot. This effectively excluded poor people and people of color, who lacked private automobiles, from accessing the beach. Caro describes his own observations decades later, noting the stark racial demographics at the beach, which underscored the lasting impact of Moses's discriminatory policies on the powerless.

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