When Did the Statue of Liberty Turn Green?: And 101 Other Questions About New York City

by The Staff of the New-York Historical Society Library

Overview

A treasury of trivia from the New-York Historical Society: “An extraordinary tapestry depicting New York's story.... An almost addictive read.”—Library Journal
 
For years, the librarians at the New-York Historical Society have kept a record of the questions posed to them by curious locals and visitors to the city. Who was the first woman to run for mayor of New York? Why are beavers featured on the city's official seal? Is it true that a nineteenth-century New Yorker built a house out of spite? Who were the Collyer brothers? In this book, the library staff answers more than a hundred of the most popular and compelling queries. With endlessly entertaining entries featuring hard-to-find data and unforgettable profiles, it’s ideal for those who love trivia, urban history, strange tales, and, of course, New York City. Discover:

• How “Peg-Leg” Peter Stuyvesant lost his right leg 
• Whether Manhattan used to have cowboys
• How the New York Yankees got their name
• Who was Pig Foot Mary
• Why the Manhattan House of Detention is called the Tombs
• Who Topsy was and how she electrified New York City
• How many speakeasies were open during Prohibition
• What occurred every May in the nineteenth century to cause so much commotion

When penguins were stolen from the Coney Island Aquarium, and much more

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231519397
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	07/15/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	193
File size:	39 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

The New-York Historical Society, a preeminent educational and research institution, is home to both New York City's oldest museum and one of the nation's most distinguished independent research libraries. Each year, the library staff assists more than 5000 researchers on-site and another 5000 remotely.Jean W. Ashton is executive vice president and director of the New-York Historical Society Library.Nina Nazionale is director of library operations at the New-York Historical Society.

Table of Contents

Foreword, by Ric Burns
Acknowledgments
Firsts and Origins
History and Politics
Curiosities and Wonders
Buildings, Streets, and Neighborhoods
Arts, Leisure, and Diversions

Editorial Reviews

Highly recommended to anyone curious to learn more about New York City's legacy, traditions, and amazing true stories.

The Midwest Book Review