Category: History

New York’s history is filled with remarkable people, iconic landmarks, forgotten places, cultural milestones, and events that helped shape not only the Empire State but the nation itself. From New York City and Long Island to communities throughout the state, this section explores the stories behind the places, people, institutions, and moments that continue to define New York’s unique identity and lasting influence.

Aerial view of Fort Ticonderoga showing its stone bastions and defensive walls beside Lake Champlain in New York
History of Fort Ticonderoga and the Lake Champlain Corridor
Aerial view of Brooklyn neighborhoods with the Manhattan skyline in the distance
Why New York City Became Five Boroughs in 1898
Saratoga National Historical Park in Upstate New York, site of the 1777 Battles of Saratoga during the American Revolution
The Battles of Saratoga: Why the 1777 Victory Changed the American Revolution
Historic stone houses lining Huguenot Street in New Paltz, New York
25 Upstate New York Towns Older Than the United States
Pedestrians walking past historic storefronts in Cold Spring, Putnam County, New York, during autumn
25 Famous People You Didn’t Know Were From Putnam County, New York
Harvard University Hall in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with the John Harvard statue, American flag, and historic stone facade.
25 Famous New Yorkers You Didn’t Know Graduated From Harvard University
Pedestrians crossing Main Street in downtown Flushing, Queens, with city buses, storefronts, and commercial buildings
25 Famous People You Didn’t Know Were From Flushing, Queens
Red outdoor picnic tables, restaurant sign, and surrounding neighborhood at L&B Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn.
25 Famous People You Didn’t Know Were From Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Historic 1915 photograph showing crowds and emergency activity at Broadway and West 55th Street during the New York City subway fire
The 1915 New York City Subway Fire: What Happened Beneath Broadway
Historic Flight of Five Erie Canal locks in Lockport, New York, built to carry canal boats over the Niagara Escarpment.
25 Erie Canal Towns That Helped Build Upstate New York
New York Central electric train arriving at Grand Central during the early electrification era in 1906
Why New York City Trains Went Electric
Interchange ramps connecting the Major Deegan Expressway and Cross Bronx Expressway in the Bronx, New York
The 8 Most Complicated Highway Interchanges in New York State
Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, New York, showing its Gothic Revival stone architecture, distinctive towers, and surrounding lawn.
25 Historic Hudson Valley Estates and Mansions With Remarkable Stories
Historic photograph of Beacon Towers mansion in Sands Point, Long Island, in 1922, showing its Gothic towers and grand entrance.
15 Lost Gold Coast Mansions of Long Island
Main Lodge at Great Camp Sagamore on Sagamore Lake in the Adirondacks
15 Historic Great Camps of the Adirondacks and Their Remarkable Architecture
Close view of the Statue of Liberty’s raised arm and torch against a blue sky
10 Secret Spaces and Hidden Rooms Inside New York City Landmarks