Before I turn the page on my study of the Gilded Age and begin my deep dive into the Progressive Era, I want to shift focus to New York City. This inspiration was brought on by a PBS documentary I am watching about the history of the city. It's also a fitting time for me to do this study since the city played such a pivotal role during the Industrial Age. By the 1850s it had become the center of the American financial system as well as a major hub for immigration. Martin Scorsese's masterful film Gangs of New York demonstrates a great portrayal of the city during this time.
Several years ago I wrote a post about the turning point of New York City portrayed in Gangs of New York, (see Draft City Riots). The film demonstrated the boom of the city, the waves of immigration, and especially the political corruption of the time. However to be fair, New York City was on the up-swing long before the Civil War, dating back to the colonial days and thru the American Revolution. By 1790 it had already established itself as the country's largest city and a booming center of commerce and trade.
To this day New York City remains America's largest city at an impressive population of 8 million. It is also one the most iconic cities in the world, a true hub of global and cultural exchange. It has been home to the largest building in the world for almost a century, first dating back to 1908 with the Singer Building, MetLife Building from 1909-1913, Woolworth Building from 1913-1930, 40 Wall Street in 1930, Chrysler Building from 1930-1931, Empire State Building from 1931 until 1970, and World Trade Center from 1971 until it was surpassed by the Sears Tower in 1973.
So just like I wrote about Paris a couple years ago, (Study on Paris) I'm going to do in an-depth study on this iconic city. Known as the Big Apple, the Empire State, and the City that Never Sleeps. I will describe my personal experience visiting the city, as well the history of the city, and it's many architectural landmarks.
My Experience in New York City
I have visited New York City just once so far in my lifetime, but it was a very thorough and enjoyable trip. I went with my family in the summer of 2005 for a week's vacation in the Big Apple. It was a blissful summer for me, as I had finished my sophomore year, had a good internship at Superior Essex, and was crazy about a girl. It was a very memorable trip and also great bonding with my 3 brothers and parents (probably the last family trip that involved just the 6 of us). I remember the whole trip there, my youngest brother Andres and my mom kept singing "New York! New York! New York!"
My dad was our ultimate tour guide, and planned our day to day navigation thru paper maps of the city and the subway system (this was back in a time before smart phones). We spent an entire week, visiting a different borough each day. We saw Wall Street, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Times Corner, Ground Zero, Central Park, and so much more. Our highlight of the trip was no doubt watching a game at Yankee Stadium "The House that Ruth Built". I remember being quite impressed by how friendly everyone was, how diverse the city was, and especially how fast everybody walked. It was all in all a very enjoyable experience, and I would very much like to visit the city again someday.
History of the City
Early Native American Settlement
It is believed that humans first inhabited the territory around 7000 BC yet were forced to evacuate due to harsh climate and lack of food. More settlers later returned around 1000 BC with improved tools and thus the territory has been inhabited ever since. One of the most notable of these early inhabitants were the native tribe of Lenape. They cleared forests, cultivated fields to grow crops, and lived off the fish of the surrounding harbor.
By the time Europeans began to settle the colonies in the 1500s, it is estimated there were over 15,000 Lenape people living in the New York City area. One of the first noted Europeans to meet these tribesman was the Italian explorer, Giovanni da Verrazzano who named the area New Angoluleme in 1524. From that point on it quickly became a popular harbor for fur trade and exploration.
Dutch Settlement of New Amsterdam
By the 1600s Dutch explorers discovered an abundant beaver population in the area and began establishing fur trading posts. In 1613, the first official European trading post was built along the shore of Manhattan Island. This eventually opened the door for Dutch Settlement and trade in the area. By 1623 the Dutch West India Company built Fort Amsterdam to protect their business interests in the area. A community quickly developed around this fort and thus the settlement became referred to as New Amsterdam in 1624.
During this time Dutch began importing African slaves to help develop the territory. Peter Minuit was one of the early directors of this development and he frequently dealt with Indian and English attacks. Relations with the Native Americans took a downward turn following Keift's War and the Pavonia Massacre of 1643 that resulted in the death of 80 Lenape tribesmen. By 1647 Peter Stuyvesant, a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, was brought on to become new director. He helped expand the city's development which eventually became a self-governed city in 1653 with a population of 2,500. While he can be credited for much of the city's expansion he was quite unpopular for his lack of religious tolerance.
English settlement of New York
By 1664 the rising dominance of English colonies gave way to the total conquest of New Amsterdam. English ships and soldiers arrived in Gravesand Bay, Brooklyn with hardly any opposition whatsoever. Peter Stuvesant was forced to capitulate the city to the British and thus the Dutch West India Company was forced to leave. The English quickly renamed the city New York in honor of their Duke of York, King James II of England. The city quickly became a prosperous city under the mighty British Empire and nearly doubled in size by the end of the 17th century to 7,500.
Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688 where King James II of England was deposed, a German American merchant and militia member named Jacob Leisler lead a rebellion that seized control of the city for 2 full years. English armies were later sent to the city to crush Leisler's Rebellion and bring order back to the city. Although Jacob Leisler was executed this marked one of the first major resistances against the British Colonial Rule. By the turn of the 18th century anti-British sentiment began to spread throughout New England.
By the 1740s New York had the 2nd largest population of slaves in America (after Charleston, South Carolina) making up nearly 20% of the population. A major event in the history of New York City was the Conspiracy of 1741 in which blacks planned to burn the city. In reaction to this panic, many blacks and poor whites were rounded up and executed. To this day there is general disagreement as to whether such a plot existed or not, and is yet another example of racial subversion in America's history.
Sons of Liberty and the American Revolution
One of the major tipping points of anti-British fervor among colonialists came with the passing of the Stamp Act in 1765. This essentially levied yet another tax on colonialists who felt it was unfair the British continue their "taxation without representation". From this was born the Sons of Liberty who were an underground organization based out of Boston with strong ties to New York City. The resistance was able to continue to spread following the Tea Act of 1773 and the Intolerable Acts of 1774.
At the onset of the Revolutionary War, the British Empire began to tighten their grip on New York City using it as their main center of military operations. It also became a haven for loyalist Americans who wanted nothing to do with the revolution. American Espionage was essentially born during this time in New York City, with the crucial information gathered by the Culper Ring. Famous Continental spy Nathan Hale was hanged by the British Armies in New York City during this time.
Following the end of the American Revolutionary War, on Nov 25th, 1883 George Washington marched the Continental Army into New York City overseeing the departure of British occupation in what is referred to as Evacuation Day. Soon there after New York City became the capitol of the newly established American Government. Federal Hall became the center house of government where the Supreme Court resided. George Washington was inaugurated at this house in 1789 to become the nations first president. The capitol remained in New York City until 1790 when it was moved to Philadelphia.
Tammany Hall, PT Barnum, and Immigration
Prior to the American Revolution most of the nations immigrants were slaves out of Africa. That began to change significantly at the start of the 19th century and New York City became the main harbor for arriving immigrants. By 1830 there were large numbers of immigrants pouring in from Ireland, Britain, and Germany all looking for better opportunities in the new nation. In response to this a Nativism movement started throughout the city opposed to immigration and Catholicism. They were referred to as the Know-Nothing Party and peaked in the 1850s before they begin to dissolve by the Civil War. (The iconic character of Will Cutting from the movie Gangs of New York is a perfect example of this movement)
From 1840 to 1850 immigration into New York City tripled from Ireland, Germany, Britain, and France due to various outbreaks of famine as well as revolutions. By 1850 the Irish people made up 1 quarter of the cities populations which has now reached over a million. Notable businessman, William Tweed was able to recruit many of these Irish immigrants to join his political machine of Tammany Hall. During this time many Irish-Americans were involved in gangs and corruption however the majority played a pivotal role in helping construct the bridges, railways, canals, and buildings of the booming city.
During this time PT Barnum's Museum of Curiosities became a staple attraction of the city. It was one of the first major theaters and circus venues, perhaps considered the precursor to the Broadway business. Barnum's museum provided various entertainment, music shows, and exhibits displaying dwarfs, magicians, giants, and all other forms of abnormal people. Barnum also played a crucial role in providing entertainment at the 1953 Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations. This world fair demonstrated New York City's cultural and economic boom to the world.
During the Civil War, racial tension reached a tipping point among Nativists, Irish, and blacks resulting in the Draft Riots of 1863. Irish people did not want to partake in the civil war protecting African slaves and caused a riot in response to conscription. Many African Americans were killed during these riots, and it was yet another tragic event in the city's history. In response to this many blacks left the city of New York and moved to the outskirts of Brooklyn.
Immigration continued to pour into the nation after the Civil War, and in 1886 the Statue of Liberty was dedicated by the French, as the welcoming symbol of freedom in America. By the 1890s a massive stream of Italians began arriving into New York City. Italians were looking to escape recent political instability in their country as well as take advantage of the better opportunities in America. Soon there were "Little Italy" neighborhoods spread all throughout the city. Just like their Catholic Irish counterparts some of the Italian immigrants partook in organized crime while the majority played a significant part in building the city's infrastructure. By the end of the 19th century there were nearly 2.5 million people living in New York City.
Industrial Boom and Consolidation of Burroughs
During the Gilded Age, New York City became the financial center of the nations booming economy. It was a center for finance, industry, commerce, communications, and culture. Notable business titans such as John D Rockefeller, JP Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and Cornelius Vanderbilt all moved their business headquarters to New York City. New buildings, bridges, and railways began to dominate the city skyline. Vanderbilt implemented an effective railway system in and out of the city, situated at his iconic Grand Central Terminal. In 1901 US Steel was centered in New York City as the most profitable business in the world.
Another major turning point in the expansion of New York was the consolidation of the Burroughs of the city. This occurred in 1898 when the five neighboring districts of Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island were consolidated into one. The Brooklyn Bridge (built in 1883) was an iconic symbol of this new unification and to this day remains a monumental landmark of New York City. This consolidation shifted New York City's population up to 3.5 million.
During this time journalism also began to boom out of New York City. The city was distributing 15 to 20 daily newspapers with notables names such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times dominating the market. Joseph Pulitzer was one of the first major newspaper publishers in the city and was able to appeal to the people thru his popular St. Louis Dispatch and the New York World publications. He was later challenged by up-and-comer businessman William Randolph Hearst. Hearst introduced a new style of 'yellow journalism' sensationalism that really improved sales. By 1898 Both Hearst and Pulitzer were circulating over a million newspapers a day in the city. By the Progressive Era a new style of investigate reporting gave way to the "muckracker" journalists. Ida Tarbell was considered one of the first significant muckrakers as she brought national attention to Rockefeller's ruthless oil company in 1904.
The Progressive Era brought on a new opposition to big business from the government, journalists, and general public alike. Various political movements were born out of New York City at this time such as suffragettes and a rise of socialists and anarchists. Throughout the early 1900s there were several notable disasters in the city such as the General Slocum Disaster of 1904 where a steamboat caught fire in the East River, killing 1342 German-Americans on board. It was the 2nd worse maritime in US history behind the Sultana explosion of 1865. Another major disaster of this time was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 in Greenwich Village which killed 146 textile workers.
Roaring 20s, Skyscrapers, and Great Depression
Following the end of WWI, New York City became the national center of the economic boom known as the Roaring 20s. It was a renaissance of Art Deco, jazz music, the female flapper, and the dominance of the New York Yankees. From 1923 to 1935 the New York Yankees established themselves as a dynasty in baseball led by the great sluggers Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. This dynasty would continue throughout the decades with other notable stars such as Joe DiMaggio, Micky Mantle, and Roger Marris. To this day the New York Yankees remain the most decorated professional sports teams with 27 championships.
During the 1920s new Immigration Acts began regulating the influx of foreign settlers, however the city was still a haven for other Americans looking for better opportunities. Prohibition brought on new bootlegging and crime syndicates based out of the city. During this time many African Americans began moving to New York City from the South and situated themselves in the district of Harlem. By 1925 New York City was the largest city in the world with a population of 5.6 million, surpassing London.
On Oct 29th, 1929 the economic boom came to a sudden end in Wall Street with the Stock Market Crash of 1929, also known as "Black Tuesday". It was the worse stock market crash in history and brought on a 12 year period of global financial crisis known as the Great Depression. During this time unemployment was at it's highest rate at over 20% in the nation. In response to this economic collapse the American government under the leadership of president Franklin D Roosevelt began instituting a recovery package known as the New Deal. This essentially brought stricter regulations on many of the "robber baron" capitalists based out of New York City.
During the Depression, New York City still oversaw a period of massive construction in the city which introduced some of the world's tallest skyscrapers ever built. The 40 Wall Street building, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center were all built in the early 1930s with a modern Art Deco style. The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years until it was surpassed by the World Trade Center in 1973.
Following WWII the United States was able to recover from the Great Depression and soon New York City was back at the forefront of America's booming economy. Real estate manager, Robert Moses, ushered in a new era of modern development that significantly urbanized the city. This included various building developments and projects such as transforming the city from a railway system to an automobile system. He also played a pivotal role in hosting the World Fair in 1939, 1964, and helped establish the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City in 1951.
Crime and Internet Boom
During the 1960s and 1970s the city began to experience an economic decline due to various factors. It became a center for crime, race riots, labor strikes, and political activism. Also many of the middle class citizens began moving to the suburbs as well as other cities where things were less expensive and crowded. The west also began to pull away some of the attention from New York City, with the rise of booming cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. The relocation of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants to California marked a significant shift of business.
During this time the city began to experience a terrible fiscal crisis and needed assistance from the federal government. President Gerald Ford at first did not want to help the city but eventually he did grant them a federal bailout. However the Great Depression did not halt the construction of monumental skyscrapers and neither was this crisis in the 1970s. In 1971 the Port Authority of New York completed the twin towers of the World Trade Center. These behemoth towers dominated the city's skyline and surpassed the Empire State Building as the tallest building in the world.
During the 1980s Mayor Ed Koch ushered in an era of revival in Wall Street as well as fighting crime throughout the city. The real estate market began to rise again while unemployment began to decline. However also during this time the illegal drug business began to boom out of New York City, bringing another rise to crime and corruption. The dealing of cocaine and crack was considered an epidemic which affected the subway system and streets of the city.
In the 1990s Mayor David Dinkins was able to lower the crime rate in the city however his term also saw a decline in the city's economy. Mayor Rudolf Giuliani took over in 1993 and played a significant role of helping the city rebound to a global epicenter. Wall Street began to boom again at this time thanks to the recent internet market. Times Square became a center for communication, entertainment, and culture. And the New York Yankees returned to their dynasty ways winning several world series in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Sept 11th and the Global City Today
On September 11th, 2001 the World Trade Centers were both destroyed by hijacked airplanes flown by terrorists. Along with this there were simultaneous attacks on Washington DC and a crashed planed in Pennsylvania, that brought the total causalities to 2,977 (2,606 were killed at the twin towers). Osama Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist network were blamed for the attack which led President George W. Bush to respond with a new War on Terror.
I remember watching the news of this event unfold as a sophomore in high school. It was no doubt the most significant historical event in my lifetime thus far. It was a major turning point in the history of New York City as well as American history. A monument was placed to honor the citizens who lost their lives at Ground Zero while a new Trade Center was completed in 2014. Bin Laden was killed in 2011, and the War on Terror is still ongoing.
The tragedy of 9/11 had a significant affect on the city and nation as a whole. Patriotism went on the rise while anti-Muslim fervor began to spread. Mayor Giuliani lead the city through it's mourning and cleanup of the site. Mayor Michael Bloomberg took over in 2002 to guide the city through it's rebuilding effort as well as a new accountability to management. The city underwent two major hurricanes, Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy 2012. Despite all these tragedies New York City continues to thrive to this day as one the most iconic cities in the world, a true global metropolis.
Architectural Landmarks of the City
Several years ago I wrote a post about the turning point of New York City portrayed in Gangs of New York, (see Draft City Riots). The film demonstrated the boom of the city, the waves of immigration, and especially the political corruption of the time. However to be fair, New York City was on the up-swing long before the Civil War, dating back to the colonial days and thru the American Revolution. By 1790 it had already established itself as the country's largest city and a booming center of commerce and trade.To this day New York City remains America's largest city at an impressive population of 8 million. It is also one the most iconic cities in the world, a true hub of global and cultural exchange. It has been home to the largest building in the world for almost a century, first dating back to 1908 with the Singer Building, MetLife Building from 1909-1913, Woolworth Building from 1913-1930, 40 Wall Street in 1930, Chrysler Building from 1930-1931, Empire State Building from 1931 until 1970, and World Trade Center from 1971 until it was surpassed by the Sears Tower in 1973.
So just like I wrote about Paris a couple years ago, (Study on Paris) I'm going to do in an-depth study on this iconic city. Known as the Big Apple, the Empire State, and the City that Never Sleeps. I will describe my personal experience visiting the city, as well the history of the city, and it's many architectural landmarks.
My Experience in New York City
I have visited New York City just once so far in my lifetime, but it was a very thorough and enjoyable trip. I went with my family in the summer of 2005 for a week's vacation in the Big Apple. It was a blissful summer for me, as I had finished my sophomore year, had a good internship at Superior Essex, and was crazy about a girl. It was a very memorable trip and also great bonding with my 3 brothers and parents (probably the last family trip that involved just the 6 of us). I remember the whole trip there, my youngest brother Andres and my mom kept singing "New York! New York! New York!"
My dad was our ultimate tour guide, and planned our day to day navigation thru paper maps of the city and the subway system (this was back in a time before smart phones). We spent an entire week, visiting a different borough each day. We saw Wall Street, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Times Corner, Ground Zero, Central Park, and so much more. Our highlight of the trip was no doubt watching a game at Yankee Stadium "The House that Ruth Built". I remember being quite impressed by how friendly everyone was, how diverse the city was, and especially how fast everybody walked. It was all in all a very enjoyable experience, and I would very much like to visit the city again someday.
History of the City
Early Native American Settlement
It is believed that humans first inhabited the territory around 7000 BC yet were forced to evacuate due to harsh climate and lack of food. More settlers later returned around 1000 BC with improved tools and thus the territory has been inhabited ever since. One of the most notable of these early inhabitants were the native tribe of Lenape. They cleared forests, cultivated fields to grow crops, and lived off the fish of the surrounding harbor.By the time Europeans began to settle the colonies in the 1500s, it is estimated there were over 15,000 Lenape people living in the New York City area. One of the first noted Europeans to meet these tribesman was the Italian explorer, Giovanni da Verrazzano who named the area New Angoluleme in 1524. From that point on it quickly became a popular harbor for fur trade and exploration.
Dutch Settlement of New Amsterdam
By the 1600s Dutch explorers discovered an abundant beaver population in the area and began establishing fur trading posts. In 1613, the first official European trading post was built along the shore of Manhattan Island. This eventually opened the door for Dutch Settlement and trade in the area. By 1623 the Dutch West India Company built Fort Amsterdam to protect their business interests in the area. A community quickly developed around this fort and thus the settlement became referred to as New Amsterdam in 1624.During this time Dutch began importing African slaves to help develop the territory. Peter Minuit was one of the early directors of this development and he frequently dealt with Indian and English attacks. Relations with the Native Americans took a downward turn following Keift's War and the Pavonia Massacre of 1643 that resulted in the death of 80 Lenape tribesmen. By 1647 Peter Stuyvesant, a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, was brought on to become new director. He helped expand the city's development which eventually became a self-governed city in 1653 with a population of 2,500. While he can be credited for much of the city's expansion he was quite unpopular for his lack of religious tolerance.
English settlement of New York
By 1664 the rising dominance of English colonies gave way to the total conquest of New Amsterdam. English ships and soldiers arrived in Gravesand Bay, Brooklyn with hardly any opposition whatsoever. Peter Stuvesant was forced to capitulate the city to the British and thus the Dutch West India Company was forced to leave. The English quickly renamed the city New York in honor of their Duke of York, King James II of England. The city quickly became a prosperous city under the mighty British Empire and nearly doubled in size by the end of the 17th century to 7,500.
By the 1740s New York had the 2nd largest population of slaves in America (after Charleston, South Carolina) making up nearly 20% of the population. A major event in the history of New York City was the Conspiracy of 1741 in which blacks planned to burn the city. In reaction to this panic, many blacks and poor whites were rounded up and executed. To this day there is general disagreement as to whether such a plot existed or not, and is yet another example of racial subversion in America's history.
Sons of Liberty and the American Revolution
One of the major tipping points of anti-British fervor among colonialists came with the passing of the Stamp Act in 1765. This essentially levied yet another tax on colonialists who felt it was unfair the British continue their "taxation without representation". From this was born the Sons of Liberty who were an underground organization based out of Boston with strong ties to New York City. The resistance was able to continue to spread following the Tea Act of 1773 and the Intolerable Acts of 1774.
Following the end of the American Revolutionary War, on Nov 25th, 1883 George Washington marched the Continental Army into New York City overseeing the departure of British occupation in what is referred to as Evacuation Day. Soon there after New York City became the capitol of the newly established American Government. Federal Hall became the center house of government where the Supreme Court resided. George Washington was inaugurated at this house in 1789 to become the nations first president. The capitol remained in New York City until 1790 when it was moved to Philadelphia.
Tammany Hall, PT Barnum, and Immigration
Prior to the American Revolution most of the nations immigrants were slaves out of Africa. That began to change significantly at the start of the 19th century and New York City became the main harbor for arriving immigrants. By 1830 there were large numbers of immigrants pouring in from Ireland, Britain, and Germany all looking for better opportunities in the new nation. In response to this a Nativism movement started throughout the city opposed to immigration and Catholicism. They were referred to as the Know-Nothing Party and peaked in the 1850s before they begin to dissolve by the Civil War. (The iconic character of Will Cutting from the movie Gangs of New York is a perfect example of this movement)From 1840 to 1850 immigration into New York City tripled from Ireland, Germany, Britain, and France due to various outbreaks of famine as well as revolutions. By 1850 the Irish people made up 1 quarter of the cities populations which has now reached over a million. Notable businessman, William Tweed was able to recruit many of these Irish immigrants to join his political machine of Tammany Hall. During this time many Irish-Americans were involved in gangs and corruption however the majority played a pivotal role in helping construct the bridges, railways, canals, and buildings of the booming city.
During this time PT Barnum's Museum of Curiosities became a staple attraction of the city. It was one of the first major theaters and circus venues, perhaps considered the precursor to the Broadway business. Barnum's museum provided various entertainment, music shows, and exhibits displaying dwarfs, magicians, giants, and all other forms of abnormal people. Barnum also played a crucial role in providing entertainment at the 1953 Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations. This world fair demonstrated New York City's cultural and economic boom to the world.
During the Civil War, racial tension reached a tipping point among Nativists, Irish, and blacks resulting in the Draft Riots of 1863. Irish people did not want to partake in the civil war protecting African slaves and caused a riot in response to conscription. Many African Americans were killed during these riots, and it was yet another tragic event in the city's history. In response to this many blacks left the city of New York and moved to the outskirts of Brooklyn.Immigration continued to pour into the nation after the Civil War, and in 1886 the Statue of Liberty was dedicated by the French, as the welcoming symbol of freedom in America. By the 1890s a massive stream of Italians began arriving into New York City. Italians were looking to escape recent political instability in their country as well as take advantage of the better opportunities in America. Soon there were "Little Italy" neighborhoods spread all throughout the city. Just like their Catholic Irish counterparts some of the Italian immigrants partook in organized crime while the majority played a significant part in building the city's infrastructure. By the end of the 19th century there were nearly 2.5 million people living in New York City.
Industrial Boom and Consolidation of Burroughs
During the Gilded Age, New York City became the financial center of the nations booming economy. It was a center for finance, industry, commerce, communications, and culture. Notable business titans such as John D Rockefeller, JP Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and Cornelius Vanderbilt all moved their business headquarters to New York City. New buildings, bridges, and railways began to dominate the city skyline. Vanderbilt implemented an effective railway system in and out of the city, situated at his iconic Grand Central Terminal. In 1901 US Steel was centered in New York City as the most profitable business in the world.Another major turning point in the expansion of New York was the consolidation of the Burroughs of the city. This occurred in 1898 when the five neighboring districts of Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island were consolidated into one. The Brooklyn Bridge (built in 1883) was an iconic symbol of this new unification and to this day remains a monumental landmark of New York City. This consolidation shifted New York City's population up to 3.5 million.
During this time journalism also began to boom out of New York City. The city was distributing 15 to 20 daily newspapers with notables names such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times dominating the market. Joseph Pulitzer was one of the first major newspaper publishers in the city and was able to appeal to the people thru his popular St. Louis Dispatch and the New York World publications. He was later challenged by up-and-comer businessman William Randolph Hearst. Hearst introduced a new style of 'yellow journalism' sensationalism that really improved sales. By 1898 Both Hearst and Pulitzer were circulating over a million newspapers a day in the city. By the Progressive Era a new style of investigate reporting gave way to the "muckracker" journalists. Ida Tarbell was considered one of the first significant muckrakers as she brought national attention to Rockefeller's ruthless oil company in 1904.The Progressive Era brought on a new opposition to big business from the government, journalists, and general public alike. Various political movements were born out of New York City at this time such as suffragettes and a rise of socialists and anarchists. Throughout the early 1900s there were several notable disasters in the city such as the General Slocum Disaster of 1904 where a steamboat caught fire in the East River, killing 1342 German-Americans on board. It was the 2nd worse maritime in US history behind the Sultana explosion of 1865. Another major disaster of this time was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 in Greenwich Village which killed 146 textile workers.
Roaring 20s, Skyscrapers, and Great Depression
Following the end of WWI, New York City became the national center of the economic boom known as the Roaring 20s. It was a renaissance of Art Deco, jazz music, the female flapper, and the dominance of the New York Yankees. From 1923 to 1935 the New York Yankees established themselves as a dynasty in baseball led by the great sluggers Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. This dynasty would continue throughout the decades with other notable stars such as Joe DiMaggio, Micky Mantle, and Roger Marris. To this day the New York Yankees remain the most decorated professional sports teams with 27 championships.During the 1920s new Immigration Acts began regulating the influx of foreign settlers, however the city was still a haven for other Americans looking for better opportunities. Prohibition brought on new bootlegging and crime syndicates based out of the city. During this time many African Americans began moving to New York City from the South and situated themselves in the district of Harlem. By 1925 New York City was the largest city in the world with a population of 5.6 million, surpassing London.
On Oct 29th, 1929 the economic boom came to a sudden end in Wall Street with the Stock Market Crash of 1929, also known as "Black Tuesday". It was the worse stock market crash in history and brought on a 12 year period of global financial crisis known as the Great Depression. During this time unemployment was at it's highest rate at over 20% in the nation. In response to this economic collapse the American government under the leadership of president Franklin D Roosevelt began instituting a recovery package known as the New Deal. This essentially brought stricter regulations on many of the "robber baron" capitalists based out of New York City.During the Depression, New York City still oversaw a period of massive construction in the city which introduced some of the world's tallest skyscrapers ever built. The 40 Wall Street building, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center were all built in the early 1930s with a modern Art Deco style. The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years until it was surpassed by the World Trade Center in 1973.
Following WWII the United States was able to recover from the Great Depression and soon New York City was back at the forefront of America's booming economy. Real estate manager, Robert Moses, ushered in a new era of modern development that significantly urbanized the city. This included various building developments and projects such as transforming the city from a railway system to an automobile system. He also played a pivotal role in hosting the World Fair in 1939, 1964, and helped establish the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City in 1951.
Crime and Internet Boom
During the 1960s and 1970s the city began to experience an economic decline due to various factors. It became a center for crime, race riots, labor strikes, and political activism. Also many of the middle class citizens began moving to the suburbs as well as other cities where things were less expensive and crowded. The west also began to pull away some of the attention from New York City, with the rise of booming cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. The relocation of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants to California marked a significant shift of business.
During this time the city began to experience a terrible fiscal crisis and needed assistance from the federal government. President Gerald Ford at first did not want to help the city but eventually he did grant them a federal bailout. However the Great Depression did not halt the construction of monumental skyscrapers and neither was this crisis in the 1970s. In 1971 the Port Authority of New York completed the twin towers of the World Trade Center. These behemoth towers dominated the city's skyline and surpassed the Empire State Building as the tallest building in the world.During the 1980s Mayor Ed Koch ushered in an era of revival in Wall Street as well as fighting crime throughout the city. The real estate market began to rise again while unemployment began to decline. However also during this time the illegal drug business began to boom out of New York City, bringing another rise to crime and corruption. The dealing of cocaine and crack was considered an epidemic which affected the subway system and streets of the city.
In the 1990s Mayor David Dinkins was able to lower the crime rate in the city however his term also saw a decline in the city's economy. Mayor Rudolf Giuliani took over in 1993 and played a significant role of helping the city rebound to a global epicenter. Wall Street began to boom again at this time thanks to the recent internet market. Times Square became a center for communication, entertainment, and culture. And the New York Yankees returned to their dynasty ways winning several world series in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Sept 11th and the Global City Today
On September 11th, 2001 the World Trade Centers were both destroyed by hijacked airplanes flown by terrorists. Along with this there were simultaneous attacks on Washington DC and a crashed planed in Pennsylvania, that brought the total causalities to 2,977 (2,606 were killed at the twin towers). Osama Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist network were blamed for the attack which led President George W. Bush to respond with a new War on Terror.
The tragedy of 9/11 had a significant affect on the city and nation as a whole. Patriotism went on the rise while anti-Muslim fervor began to spread. Mayor Giuliani lead the city through it's mourning and cleanup of the site. Mayor Michael Bloomberg took over in 2002 to guide the city through it's rebuilding effort as well as a new accountability to management. The city underwent two major hurricanes, Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy 2012. Despite all these tragedies New York City continues to thrive to this day as one the most iconic cities in the world, a true global metropolis.
Architectural Landmarks of the City
- Statue of Liberty
- Constructed: 1870-1886
- Location: Liberty Island, Manhattan
- Designer: Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and Gustave Eiffel
- Purpose: Symbol of America's promise of freedom and liberty
- Significance: Presented and constructed by the French people as a gift honoring America's independence. The monument has become a defining symbol of New York City as well as the United States. It was a welcoming monument to many immigrants from the 1890s to 1920s.
- Chrysler Building
- Constructed: 1928-1930
- Location: Lexington Ave, Manhattan
- Architect: William Van Alen
- Purpose: Was Chrysler headquarters until 1950s
- Significance: It is one of my favorite skyscrapers in the world with it's iconic spire and Art Deco style. It held the title of world's tallest building for only a year after it's completion in 1930, until it was surpassed by the Empire State Building. It remains to this day a definitive building of the New York Skyline.
- Empire State Building
- Constructed: 1930-1931
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Designer: Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon
- Purpose: Office building
- Significance: It became the tallest building in the world from 1931 until it was surpassed by the World Trade Center in 1973. It is an an icon of New York City built in the Art Deco style. The name of this building has given New York city the nickname, "Empire State". It is currently the 5th tallest building in the United States.
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Constructed: 1869-1883
- Location: Spans the East River connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn
- Designer: John Augustus Roebling
- Purpose: Connect Manhattan with Brooklyn over the East River
- Significance: It is one of the oldest and most iconic landmarks in the city, it's design is my favorite bridge in the world. The bridge has been restored multiple times now and is still an effective means of transportation from one island to the other.
- Flatiron Building
- Constructed: 1902
- Location: Madison Square, Manhattan
- Designer: DH Burnham and Co.
- Purpose: Office use
- Significance: It was one of the first major skyscrapers of the city and it's triangular shape has made it one of the most historic and iconic buildings of the city.
- Central Park
- Constructed: 1857
- Location: Manhattan, New York
- Designer: Frederick Law Olmsted
- Purpose: Recreation and natural preserves within the city.
- Significance: It is one of the most famous urban parks in the world attracting millions of visitors each year. It has undergone numerous renovations and expansion projects since it's foundation. It includes various sites, sculptures, lakes, fountains, playgrounds, gardens, and even a zoo.
- Rockefeller Center
- Constructed: 1931-1933
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Designer: Raymond Hood
- Purpose: Various sites including a Music Hall, Radio City, a plaza, Atlas Statue, and an international complex.
- Significance: It has became a center for media, communications, and entertainment in the city. It is the iconic home of NBC Studios as well as Radio City and other musical venues. It has an iconic Greek statue of the god Atlas holding the world. It also provides an iconic massive Christmas tree and skating rink during the winter season.
- World Trade Center Site
- Constructed: 2001-2014
- Location: Lower Manhattan
- Designer: David Childs
- Purpose: Business office towers; memorial and museum of 9/11 attacks
- Significance: It is a complex of buildings that promotes international trade. Following the attacks and collapse of the Twin Towers in 2001, the site had to be reconstructed. The site of the twin towers were made into memorial pools and a museum, while new skyscrapers were built in the area. The One World Trade Center was completed in 2014 to become the new tallest building in New York City as well as the country. It is the sixth tallest building in the world.
- New York Stock Exchange
- Constructed: 1903
- Location: Wall Street, Manhattan
- Designer: Trowbridge & Livingston
- Purpose: Home to the American stock exchange
- Significance: It is the world's largest stock exchange founded in 1776 it is also one of the oldest. It is a landmark of Wall Street, a central landmark of the financial industry.
- Carnegie Hall
- Constructed: 1891
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Designer: William Tuthill
- Purpose: Concert Venue
- Significance: It is one of the most prestigious music venues in the world playing host to classical and popular concerts alike. It was commissioned by steel magnate and music patron Andrew Carnegie as a homage to the arts. The hall consists of three main auditoriums with a total capacity of 3671.
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Constructed: 1858-1878
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Architect: James Renwick
- Purpose: Church
- Significance: It is one of the most iconic cathedrals in the city if not the country, built in the Neo-Gothic style. It is home to the archbishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York. It sits across the Rockefeller Center and the Atlas Statue.
- Metlife Tower
- Constructed: 1905-1909
- Location: Madison Ave, Manhattan
- Architect: Napoleon LeBrun & Sons
- Purpose: Business offices and Metropolitan Life Insurance
- Significance: When it was completed it stood as the tallest building in the world from 1909 until 1913 when the Woolworth Building was completed. It has an iconic clock tower that is often lit up brightly at night.
- New York Public Library
- Constructed: 1895
- Location: Bryant Park, Manhattan
- Purpose: Library
- Significance: It is second largest library in the country after the Library of Congress in Washington DC. It is the third largest library in the world behind the British Library and Library of Congress. The building is best recognized for it's iconic lion statues that sit at the entrance.
- Plaza Hotel
- Constructed: 1907
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Architect: Henry J. Hardenbergh
- Purpose: Luxury Hotel
- Significance: It is perhaps one of the oldest and most famous luxury hotels in New York City. It is referenced quite frequently in books and movies alike such as Scott Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby and the film Home Alone 2.
- Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
- Constructed: 1964
- Location: The Narrows of Staten Island and Brooklyn
- Designer: Othmar Ammann
- Purpose: To connect Staten Island and Brooklyn
- Significance: It was commissioned by urban manager Robert Moses as a necessary bridge over the Narrows to connect Staten Island with Brooklyn. It is the largest bridge in the United States and was the longest bridge in the world until it was surpassed in 1981 by the Humber Bridge. It was named after Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzono who was the first European explorer to discover New York City in 1524.
- Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
- Constructed: 1900-1901
- Location: Greenwich Village, Manhattan
- Architect: John Wooley
- Purpose: Shirtwaist factory; museum today
- Significance: It was first referred to as the Asch Building named after it's owner Joseph J. Asch. It is a fairly plain 10 story building, with it's claim to fame being the tragic fire of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911 that killed 146 people. Despite the fire and the death toll, the building itself was not destroyed. It remains today a part of New York University and a museum known as the Brown Building.
- Woolworth Building
- Constructed: 1910-1913
- Location: Broadway, Manhattan
- Architect: Cass Gilbert
- Purpose: Business office, headquarters of Woolworth stores; Irving National Bank
- Significance: It became the tallest building in the world from 1913 until 1930 when it was surpassed by the Chrysler building. It was conceived by the variety-store businessman FW Woolworth in partnership with the Irving National Exchange Bank. With it's signature crown, the building remains an iconic landmark of the city's skyline.
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