There are probably a bunch of random facts you didn’t know about New York City, probably because there are a ton of random facts about NYC.
Like, did you know that Madison Square Park, Washington Square Park, Union Square Park, and Bryant Park all used to be cemeteries? It’s true. There are 20,000 bodies buried under Washington Square Park alone.
Did you know the gay rights movement started in NYC, at Stonewall Inn?
Hmm... What else? The Hudson River is named after an Englishman named Henry Hudson who “discovered” NYC in 1609. Of course, he didn’t really discover anything. The Native Americans were living here way before any Europeans “discovered” anything.
Want to learn more NYC history? Well read on, rookie.
1. New York Was once called New Amsterdam
brandnewsomewhere I've been running around the whole morning trying to get immigration documents stamped. I'm rather discouraged but I guess a good part of this exploring my city as a tourist. I've never really walked this much around Old/Lower Manhattan.
Didn’t know that, did you?
NYC used to be a Dutch colony, ever since the Dutch bought the island of Manhattan from the Lenape Native Americans in 1626.
The Lenape tribe called the island “Mannahatta,” which means “land of many hills.” Which explains why hiking uptown causes so much sweat.
When the Dutch bought the Island from the Lenape tribe, they paid 60 guilders, which translates to about $1,000. Which is kind of silly, since it costs way more than that to rent a tiny apartment for just one month in what used to be Mannahatta today.
[via Jazz Hostels]
2. Wall Street was named because of a giant wall...
... that the Dutch erected to keep out the Native Americans.
Yes, yes, the same Native Americans who sold the Dutch Manhattan for an absurdly cheap price. Surprised? You shouldn’t be.
The Dutch signed a peace treaty with the Lenape tribe called “Pipe of Peace,” which translated into their language is “Hoboken.”
However, shortly after Pipe of Peace was signed, Kieft, the Dutch Governor sent his men to massacre the Lenape population. The few Lenapes who escaped were enraged, so the Dutch built Wall Street in defense.
This, for a while, was the northern limit of the Dutch city.
[via Wikipedia]
3. The Dutch were not the only colonial settlers
beautiful_disaster__86 #cannonfire and #colonialsettlers. Just another #Saturdaymorning In #NewHope. #festival #reenactment #visitbuckscounty #history
Walloons (from what is now Belgium) also settled in the original New Amsterdam, along with French and English settlers. Jews arrived in 1654, and the first African slaves were kidnapped and brought to New Amsterdam in 1628.
These African slaves played a major role in building the colony, and are in no way afforded even a fraction of the credit they deserve for building the colony.
[via Local Histories]
4. The British didn’t have to fight too hard to seize New Amsterdam
The story goes that in 1664 Peter Stuyvesant was “Director-General” (essentially Governor) of New Amsterdam, he had one leg, and he was mean.
He was all about following rules and never having any fun, and banned Jews, Lutherans, and Quakers from establishing houses of worship. He also tried to control and regulate the sale of alcohol. Basically, he wasn’t any fun.
Anyway, in sails a fleet of British warships all prepped and armed to capture New Amsterdam from the Dutch. Upon glimpsing this approaching siege, Peter Stuyvesant yelled, “It’s time to fight! Who’s with me?!” Because he was so mean to all his citizens, no one wanted to fight with him.
When the British fleet arrived, zero Dutch had stepped forward to fight with Stuyvesant. Stuyvesant reportedly shrugged and said, “Well boys. Looks like she’s all yours.” The British promptly renamed the island “New York.”
[via New Nether Land Institute]
,5. NYC used to be the capital of the United States
Before the U.S. capital was ever Washington D.C., it was in Philadelphia. And before it was in Philadelphia, the capital of the great United States was, you guessed it, good old NYC.
The United States’ first capital building was Federal Hall, located at 26 Wall Street.
George Washington was inaugurated on the steps of Federal Hall and, the Bill of Rights, which contains all the most awesome Amendments to the Constitution like free speech and the right to privacy, was passed at Federal Hall.
So when it sort of feels like there’s a lot of important U.S. history vibrating under your feet in NYC, it’s because... there is.
[via Jazz Hostels]
6. NYC wasn’t always biggest
Today, NYC is the largest metropolis in America, with a population of 8 million. As shocking as this is, though, it wasn’t always the most densely populated city in America. It wasn’t always bustling and hustling with important bankers and celebrities.
In fact, it wasn’t until 1790 that NYC swelled larger than Philadelphia, our neighbors two hours south. America’s first stock exchange was actually in Philadelphia, and it wasn’t until 1817 that the New York merchant group sent someone to go to Philly and check out how they did it.
After that informative trip, the New York Stock and Exchange Board formally began on March 8th, 1817.
[via Hermes Press]
7. ... But we were always bad-ass
Especially during the Revolutionary War.
Because Manhattan was also an important tactical piece in the Revolutionary War chess game, the British tried to seize the island right when the Revolutionary War began.
In a bummer of a twist, and despite the fortitude of Washington’s Continental Army in Brooklyn and Harlem Heights, the British did seize Manhattan, which served as a British military base until 1783.
Which was when, you know, America won the Revolutionary War. And the rest, as they say, is history.
[via History.com]
Greatest ever? Check out So Who Would Win in an Epic 7 Game Series, Boston or New York City?