Discovering NYC
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discovering.nyc
Discovering NYC
@discovering.nyc
1.2K followers 1.5K following 500 posts
Writer, public historian & former tour NYC guide sharing the stories behind intriguing pieces of New York City history. Elsewhere @Discovering_NYC, writing at discovering.nyc
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discovering.nyc
To be most precise:
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 AM
discovering.nyc
It’s off of the Well House Drive, right before it crosses the bridge over the lake.
November 20, 2025 at 5:06 AM
discovering.nyc
A long time ago I did a deep dive into the history behind Gangs of New York & explored how accurate the movie was. It was accurate in some surprising ways! while being completely wrong in others. Anyone want to see this revived for a new blog post?

Also ofc Daniel Day Lewis can do no wrong!
The Five Points, where Orange Street, Cross Street and Anthony Street met. From Valentine's Manual of Old New York, 1855. It is a reproduction of an oil painting by George Catlin from c. 1827.
May 14, 2025 at 7:19 PM
discovering.nyc
Old Penn Station appreciation time, just because. Not that one ever needs an excuse to share this beauty.
Track level, showing stairways and elevators leading to the exit concourse. Exit concourse, showing an elevator and stairway. The concourse, looking towards 33rd Street.
May 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM
discovering.nyc
Obligatory Five Points post (I can't believe I haven't done one yet!). This view shows the eponymous junction, where Orange Street, Cross Street & Anthony Street met.

From Valentine's Manual of Old New York, 1855. It is a reproduction of an oil painting by George Catlin from c. 1827. #NYChistory
The crowded Five Points district c. 1827. On the far left is Orange Street, which extends to the right. The next intersection is Cross Street, which extends out of view to the far right. Between them is Anthony Street. Note the presence of numerous groceries. You could get food at some, and liquor and beer at many others.
April 26, 2025 at 11:29 PM
discovering.nyc
The colorful monorail built by the American Machine and Foundry Company for the 1964-65 World’s Fair. Fully automatic, it featured seven two-car trains running along a 4,000 foot loop. Visitors could "see the fair from the air" in the air-conditioned cars, which must have been a treat! #history
Folks ascended an escalator to the loading platforms within the angular striped terminal. Going around the loop took eight minutes, with the trains proceeding around 9 miles per hour. Enthusiastic attendants were on hand to point out notable features and attractions as folks enjoyed the beautiful views. Visitors flocked to ride the futuristic mode of transportation.
April 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
discovering.nyc
On April 22nd, 1964, the 1964-65 World's Fair opened in Flushing Meadows. Here's a fantastic aerial view of the expansive fairgrounds in Flushing Meadows park, showing Shea Stadium on the left.

From 30 years of progress, 1934-1964 by the Department of Parks. #NYChistory
An aerial view of the 1964-1965 World's Fair fairgrounds. North is to the left in this view, which highlights the layout of the fair. To the left is the old Shea Stadium, and between the stadium and the fairgrounds the Flushing subway and LIRR line can be seen.
April 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
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For anyone celebrating today’s other “holiday” 😜: discovering.nyc/the-short-hi...
April 20, 2025 at 10:14 PM
discovering.nyc
Happy #Easter for those who are celebrating!

Here are impeccably dressed crowds promenading up and down 5th Avenue after Easter Services, c. 1900.
Crowded sidewalks on 5th Avenue, with people dressed in their Sunday best. Many are coming from Easter services. This view is looking north from 47th Street.
April 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
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In 1902, the now-familiar entrance opened on 5th Avenue, designed by Richard Morris Hunt. Visitors enter directly into a grand new great hall and wing. Interestingly, funds ran out and the planned Karl Bitter sculptures atop the columns (see view 2 below) were never completed. #history
The 5th Avenue facade nearing completion, 1902. You can see the old building peeking out behind it on the right. From Scenes of Modern New York. The plan for the four sculptures on the 5th Avenue facade. They were to be designed by Karl Bitter as allegories of Sculpture, Painting, Architecture and Music. The new wing with the old building behind. This view has been obscured by subsequent additions. From New York, the Metropolis of America. The view along 5th Avenue c. 1940. From New York, the Wonder City.
April 14, 2025 at 12:44 AM
discovering.nyc
As the museum collections grew, so did the building, with two subsequent additions designed my Thomas Weston. Note that the original approach to the museum was from Central Park. #NYChistory
The first addition to the old building. From A History of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Early Institutions of Art. Sketch of the expanded building, with Cleopatra's Needle behind. From Leslie's Popular Monthly, December 1889. The expanded building, with the original building with its distinctive roof seen on the right. From Greater New York illustrated by Rand McNally. The building from the park. By this time, it had been expanded twice. From An album of selected views of Greater New York.
April 14, 2025 at 12:17 AM
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On April 13, 1870, the Metropolitan #Museum of Art was officially incorporated. Originally housed in a brownstone and then a mansion on 14th Street, its first dedicated building, designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, opened in 1880. Sources and more info in the alt text + more images below!
The first building in Central Park, designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould and opened in 1880. From A History of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Early Institutions of Art. Celebrating the opening of the new building in March 1880. From A History of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Early Institutions of Art. Scenes at the newly opened Metropolitan Museum of Art. From Frank Leslie's Illustrated Weekly, April 10, 1880. Folks enjoying the art. From Harper's Weekly, April 10, 1880.
April 13, 2025 at 11:49 PM
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High Bridge and the old "High Service Works" reservoir as they would look when completed. This early view also includes a curious rendering of the iconic water tower. Now a familiar feature, the octagonal water tower opened in 1872.

From D.T. Valentine’s Manual, 1868. #engineering
April 9, 2025 at 10:39 PM
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"Wheelman's Rest" in Prospect Park c. 1895. Bicycling up and down nearby Ocean Parkway, which had a dedicated path for doing so, was an immensely popular activity. Clubs such as the Kings County Wheelmen provided a space for people to plan outings and other similar activities. #Brooklyn
April 8, 2025 at 10:13 PM
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A four car train on the 9th Avenue el near 116th Street, 1880. Although many of the lots are still empty or have shanties, development is quickly encroaching. The buildings behind are part of a growing Harlem.

From The Tracks of New York Number 3 by Alan Paul Kahn and Jack May. #history
April 5, 2025 at 12:18 AM
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The magnificent Dorilton Apartments seen from 70th Street, 1909. This view looks up Broadway, with the Ansonia Apartments across on 73rd. The sketch is by Joseph Pennell, from The New New York: A Commentary on the Place and the People by John Van Dyke.
April 4, 2025 at 10:09 PM
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A "west side cowboy" riding ahead of an engine which is proceeding down 11th Avenue, c. 1930. These men on horseback warned pedestrians and clear traffic to let the trains pass. The "cowboys" served until 1941, when surface running ended.
A man on a horse proceeding in front of an engine, running on the surface of 11th Avenue.
March 26, 2025 at 10:44 PM
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It's cut off in the preview (grr) but here's the full John Sloan picture drawn for The New York Call on March 27, 1911. #Skystorians
A menacing skeleton stands on the right, and a fat cat businessman on the right, crying a single tear. They are leaning on a triangle, representing the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, with the words "Rent," "Profit," and "Interest." In the middle is a worker burning to death, reaching out in her last moments through the triangle. The newspaper to her left reads "Employer's Liability Bill," and the knife driven into it says "Courts."
March 25, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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City Hall decked out in bunting and flags, with numerous city officials gathered to celebrate beginning construction on the new #subway, March 24, 1900. Mayor Robert Van Wyck broke ground for the project using a silver spade from Tiffany & Co. The day was lauded as "Tunnel Day" in the press.
March 24, 2025 at 11:12 PM
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A rendering of a "continuous moving platform" loop to replace the 42nd Street shuttle, 1919. It would have a capacity of 10,000 passengers, with three platforms facilitating boarding and exiting. The innermost of these would have chairs and hand rails for passengers, whisking them along at 9 MPH.
A rendering of a massive 130 foot loop at Times Square. It features three continuous moving platforms that move at staggering speeds, from 3 miles per hour to 9 miles per hour. The innermost loop, the fastest, has chairs and handrails for passengers.
March 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
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Folks enjoying a stroll along the Water Terrace (later called Bethesda Terrace) and watching rowboats on the Lake in Central Park, 1868.

The Angel of the Waters statue, sculpted by Emma Stebbins, would not be installed until 1873. It gave the terrace its distinctive nickname. #history
A beautiful day out at the Water Terrace. A large fountain is spraying water, causing a rainbow to appear. Beyond is the Central Park Lake, with folks on rowboats enjoying themselves. In the background rises the labyrinthine Ramble.
March 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
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All of these views are from The construction of the Harlem river tubes, a portion of the subway system in New York City by Howard Babcock Gates. #history
Caption: Section C in position and almost filled with water, tremie scow in the background. Caption: Section D partially submerged, showing access shafts and circular plate covering to make the end compartments airtight. These plates were accessible after the tubes were filled with water and having served their purpose were removed. General view showing Section E and plant for sinking of section (note alignment mast on Section A, which has been submerged). The bridge in the background was operated by the New York Central Railroad.
March 11, 2025 at 9:40 PM
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Constructing the Harlem River Tubes, 1913-1915. These connect to the tunnels of the Lexington Avenue #subway line (today's 4/5/6), allowing trains to pass from Harlem under the river and into the Bronx. #engineering

Additional pictures will be attached below - more info is provided in the captions.
Four tubes floating on a wooden platform, each of which will hold a subway track, being put into position by long derricks. This section, section "A" is one of five that will be sunk under the Harlem River to bring the Lexington Avenue line into the Bronx. Caption: South end of Section A before launching, with its full equipment of bulkheads, valves, masts, etc. Caption: Section B placed upon flatboats and being towed out of the slip. Caption: Section A showing details of buoyancy chambers and general details of plant arrangements and tube details. Section A in position in the water, with lowering plant assembled.
March 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
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The first view is from Palmer's views of New York, Past and Present, and the second one is from The World Almanac, 1891.

Also from the latter is this fascinating plan showing more details about the top floors of the building, and the 1st and 2nd stories of the dome. #Skystorians #domescrolling
March 5, 2025 at 11:14 PM
discovering.nyc
If you need a moment to pause from your doomscrolling, may I present: dome-scrolling?

Here's a great view of the New York World Building c. 1909, along with a look at Joseph Pulitzer's office on the dome's 2nd floor. Excellent views could be had from the top of the gilded dome. #architecture
March 5, 2025 at 10:37 PM