Writer, public historian & former tour NYC guide sharing the stories behind intriguing pieces of New York City history. Elsewhere @Discovering_NYC, writing at discovering.nychttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nychttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3mbf6qwmksk2zExploring the old traditions New Yorkers kept on New Year’s Eve and Day: https://discovering.nyc/the-history-of-new-years-eve-and-new-years-day-cookies-calling-church-bells-and-time-balls/01 Jan 2026 20:10 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbf6qwmksk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3mbd6kuamhk2ePouring one out for the Metrocard tonight! It’s been a great run. I wrote a bit about the tokens and transition to the fare card of the future, along with a little bit of appreciation for the Cardvaark, of course: https://discovering.nyc/a-token-of-appreciation-for-the-metrocard/01 Jan 2026 01:01 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbd6kuamhk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3mawg2gxd6s2rWinter scenes in Central Park, 1864.26 Dec 2025 23:10 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3mawg2gxd6s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3majje5ol3k24A wonderful cross-section of the Airlines Terminal building, 1941. It stood on the SW corner of 42nd Street and Park Avenue. Passengers heading to the new LaGuardia airport could take a "limousine bus" to the airport from here.21 Dec 2025 20:05 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3majje5ol3k24https://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3m7nxn52bkk2xOne of my favorite views of the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, seen from Tippet’s Hill, 1866. The factory on the spit of land jutting into the creek is the Johnson Iron Works, which produced Delafield cannons during the Civil War.10 Dec 2025 21:06 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7nxn52bkk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3m6zskodgj22xScenes in Prospect Park, 1868. Some areas of the park were open, while others, such as the lake, were still under construction and would be for some time.02 Dec 2025 20:42 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6zskodgj22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3m6xazedvyc24Quick timeline cleanse: The view aside the old Park Row Terminal, c. 1900. It shows a Flatbush-bound trolley heading up to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, with a train heading into the terminal.01 Dec 2025 20:22 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6xazedvyc24https://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3m6nweilaoc2xThankful for being able to finish up editing through the itis! If you’re just waking up from a late turkey nap, come learn about the Fantasticals and Ragamuffin parades, which is one of the more fun ways New Yorkers used to celebrate Thanksgiving: https://discovering.nyc/the-fantasticals-and-ragamuffin-parades-how-new-yorkers-used-to-celebrate-thanksgiving/28 Nov 2025 03:18 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6nweilaoc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3m6i4yoljms2kHappy Evacuation Day! On this day in 1783, Washington and his men, including General Henry Knox and Governor George Clinton, took “happy repossession” of New York City after seven years of British occupation. The city celebrated in earnest for 10 days. https://discovering.nyc/gratitude-and-joy-peace-and-triumph-new-york-citys-evacuation-day/25 Nov 2025 20:01 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6i4yoljms2khttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3m5xbwcymic2uFor anyone looking to learn more about the Battle of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn) #HATM https://discovering.nyc/the-battle-of-brooklyn/19 Nov 2025 03:13 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5xbwcymic2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3m5ribwvtmc2iToday is the 249th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Washington, which is always interesting to write about. For anyone waiting for Ken Burns’ American Revolution tonight (I’m so excited!) this can tide you over for a bit: https://discovering.nyc/the-battle-of-fort-washington/16 Nov 2025 19:51 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5ribwvtmc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3m4jnwcqui22bResurrected 9 witch! I feel seen [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Oct 2025 23:46 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4jnwcqui22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3m3ld3xmqik2n [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Oct 2025 22:12 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3ld3xmqik2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lxnskprg222fOk, hear me out. A Lord of the Rings re-make, but with these two taking the One Ring to Mordor: [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Aug 2025 00:13 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxnskprg222fhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lu4l4xcgds2cI've been attempting to escape "melancholia" by writing blog posts about the Gilded Age. We're halfway through the season so it's high time I post them here. No folderol! https://discovering.nyc/what-is-the-use-of-struggling-the-real-life-history-of-the-gilded-age-in-nyc-season-3-episode-4/16 Jul 2025 23:30 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lu4l4xcgds2chttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lql3x7neuc22Finally pulled myself up out of the depths of grading to cobble together a post about the Jefferson Market Courthouse. Come for the old fire tower, stay for an overview of the courthouse, and enjoy the bonus pictures that my grandfather took of the old Women's House of Detention in 1966! https://discovering.nyc/the-jefferson-market-and-courthouse/01 Jun 2025 20:27 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lql3x7neuc22https://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lp5pqls7pc2bA 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! [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 May 2025 19:19 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp5pqls7pc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3looxljl6e224Chicago pope blessing the “L” when08 May 2025 22:29 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3looxljl6e224https://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lomdk2shzs25Old Penn Station appreciation time, just because. Not that one ever needs an excuse to share this beauty.07 May 2025 21:25 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lomdk2shzs25https://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lnva3b5coc2hIt was a lot of fun exploring the Beach Pneumatic Transit and the delightfully named "atmospheric" railways and their "ethereal" science (Victorians, right?!). It must have seemed magical to those who flocked to see Beach's innovative system in the three short years it was open. #history https://discovering.nyc/see-beach-express-alfred-ely-beach-and-new-york-citys-first-subway/28 Apr 2025 16:52 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnva3b5coc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lnqvcn5f7k2eObligatory 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 [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Apr 2025 23:29 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnqvcn5f7k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lnqp4ughqk27 [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Apr 2025 21:38 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnqp4ughqk27https://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lngv63uhbk2vThe 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! #history22 Apr 2025 23:59 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lngv63uhbk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/discovering.nyc/post/3lng4hwy6l225On 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. #NYChistory22 Apr 2025 16:38 +0000at://did:plc:pflndoepsjvtqxipwd6vb7oe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lng4hwy6l225