The New York City You Never Knew
April 04, 2003
by Andrea Lipinski,
Young Adult Librarian,
Kingsbridge Regional Library
So, do you think you know your way around the five boroughs? Have you even been to all five boroughs? These books and websites can help you learn about New York City's history - the history that's gone forever, and the history that's right in front of you if you know where to look.
Learn about who put up the first Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, where Typhoid Mary lived, why Judge Crater is famous, where Marilyn Monroe sang "Happy Birthday" to President Kennedy, and who blew giant smoke rings into Times Square for 25 years.
After learning about the New York City of the past, take some time to discover New York's wildlife (hint: it's more than just rats and pigeons), and take walking tours of places that will make you forget you're in a city.
Books
All Around the Town: Amazing Manhattan Facts and Curiosities by Patrick Bunyan
Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York's African Burial Ground by Joyce Hansen and Gary McGowan
A Short and Remarkable History of New York City by Jane Mushabac and Angela Wigan
Wild New York by Margaret Mittelbach and Michael Crewdson
Websites
Forgotten New York -- Visit forgotten aspects of all the boroughs of New York City. Contents include advertising, streetlamps, cemeteries, and "You'd Never Believe You're in NYC."
Strange New York -- Connect the dots by exploring a map of Manhattan. Topics include the Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge, the Whispering Gallery in Grand Central Station, and the Metronome at Union Square.
Image Details: High Bridge, New York City. Image ID: 800521. Source: The Picture Collection Online.