Tag: City Full of History

Youle’s Shot Tower – ‘City Full of History’ Episode 9

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Last time on “City Full of History”, we paid a visit to Frederick Catherwood’s Panorama!  Come along now as we climb George Youle’s Shot Tower and dive into the unique process for manufacturing lead shot in Old New York!

If you head to the block between 53rd and 54th Streets overlooking the East River, you’ll find a charming little sliver of a park.  Behind it stands two high-rise apartment complexes, but if you were here in 1823 you would be looking at one of the most interesting manufacturing centers in New York City: the shot tower belonging to George Youle.

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Catherwood’s Panorama – ‘City Full of History’ Episode 8

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Last time on “City Full of History”, we traveled to Inwood Hill Park to visit the Native American caves.  Come along this week as we pay a visit to Frederick Catherwood’s Panorama, one of the most popular entertainment spots in early New York City!

By the time Frederick Catherwood arrived in New York City in 1836 he was already well-traveled beyond his 37 years of age.  Born in London in 1799 he served as an architect’s apprentice for 6 years, took art classes at the Royal Academy, and spent 13 years studying and drawing ancient ruins around the Mediterranean.  Returning to London he worked for Robert Buford at his panorama in Leicester Square, where he learned the business of popular entertainment.  Buford painted several panoramas based on Catherwood’s drawings, while Catherwood gave lectures on his travels to an interested public.

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Inwood Native American Caves – ‘City Full of History’ Episode 7

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Last time on “City Full of History”, we flew with the ‘Bremen’, the first airplane to cross the Atlantic Ocean non-stop from East to West!  Come along this week as we visit Inwood Hill Park and dig in to the history behind New York City’s Native American Caves!

Inwood Hill Park is a unique place on the island of Manhattan.  While Central Park, Manhattan’s other sprawling woodland area, was designed and built from the ground up, the area that would become Inwood Hill Park was largely undeveloped.  By the end of the nineteenth century only a few small farms and the occasional mansion called the northern tip of Manhattan home.  Because it went mostly untouched the Washington Heights and Inwood areas were ideal for archaeological digging and in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s a dedicated group of amateur archaeologists answered the call.

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The Flight of the ‘Bremen’ – ‘City Full of History’ Episode 6

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Last time on “City Full of History”, we followed John Champe in his attempt to infiltrate British New York and kidnap the treacherous Benedict Arnold.  This week we soar with the ‘Bremen’, the first airplane to cross the Atlantic Ocean non-stop from East to West!  Come along as we follow the intrepid aviators of the ‘Bremen’ through 1928 New York City!

The history of transatlantic flight is at once both fascinating and tragic, reflecting the pace of early advancements in aviation.  The Atlantic Ocean was first crossed non-stop by John Alcock and Arthur Brown in 1919, a mere 16 years after the Wright Brothers first took flight at Kitty Hawk.  Others would follow Alcock and Brown’s exploit; Richard Byrd, Clarence Chamberlin, and of course, Charles Lindbergh.  While all of these aviators had crossed the Atlantic they had all done it by crossing from west to east, and there was a reason for that: it was easier.

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Iron Witness to History: the Bowling Green Fence – ‘City Full of History’ Episode 2

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This week on “City Full of History” we visit Bowling Green Park, one of the most historic sites in New York.  Lots of people have heard the story of the tearing down of King George III’s statue, but what most don’t realize is you can go to Bowling Green and actually see the evidence of it today!

New CFOH episodes every Monday!  Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a beat!

Harbo, Samuelsen, and the Fantastic Voyage of “The Fox” – ‘City Full of History’ Episode 1

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The first episode of “City Full of History” is here!  This week we’re talking about the intrepid, and often overlooked, voyage of George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen as they rowed “The Fox” across the Atlantic!

New CFOH episodes every Monday!  Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a beat!

NEW SHOW COMING SOON! New York: A City Full of History

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While looking through some old newspaper archives I stumbled across an article in the New York Tribune called “A City Full of History and Nobody Cares.” Published on August 13, 1922, the piece was written by Francis A. Collins and included sketches by noted illustrator Louis M. Glackens. The crux of the article was that New York was a city in danger of losing its history. There were historical events all around, but most were unsung, unmarked, and unremembered.

Challenge Accepted!

Come along as we track down some of New York’s most fascinating unsung stories and shine a little light in some forgotten corners of history!

COMING SOON!