Behind The Scenes

This blog post was written by T. Cole Jones, Ph.D., NEH Fellow, Assistant Professor, Purdue University. You probably learned in grade school that the Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the American Revolution. American General Horatio Gates’ victory over British General John Burgoyne in October 1777 convinced the French to enter the conflict…

The New-York Historical Society was honored to welcome 189 new U.S. citizens at a special naturalization ceremony on June 14. The date was especially poignant because it was Flag Day—the commemoration of when the U.S. flag was adopted in 1777, at the Second Continental Congress. The new citizens came from 37 countries, including China, Mexico,…

Written by Claire Lanier.  Admit it―it’s hard not to smile when you’re looking at Jumping Jack. He’s fun, he’s wacky, he’s relaxed (is he lying in shavasana?). Jack the toy clown gets you. So why is it that when we call Jack a “toy,” we smile, but when we call him folk art, we create…

The New-York Historical Society hosted a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization ceremony, where 90 people became U.S. citizens, on Wednesday, April 13. The new U.S. citizens originate from 42 countries, including Bangladesh, People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Slovakia, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Yemen, among others. New-York Historical’s…

Deirdre Laporte has been a docent at N-YHS for eight years. She also worked at Bell Labs and AT&T for a full decade. We recently sat down with her to learn more about her roles at the tech giants and how her professional experience enriches her exhibition tours of Silicon City: Computer History Made in…

Before the 1970s, all banking was done during business hours. Account holders relied on tellers to deposit and withdraw money, but during the mid-20th century that began to change. In 1960 Luther Simijan unveiled his latest invention the “Bankograph,” which revolutionized banking, allowing cash or check deposits at any time of day or night. Bankographs…

We’re now in the final days of our beloved seasonal exhibition, Holiday Express—come learn about toys and trains from a bygone era before the show closes on Sunday, February 28. Though the golden age of the locomotive has long since come to pass, the train set has endured as a popular toy. Toys reflect culture and offer…

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we celebrate centuries past and present civil rights leaders’ dedication to forging racial equality. Although we often associate the Civil Rights Movement with non-violent actions, not all its leaders championed civil disobedience. Some believed that the only way to end violent, institutionalized racial oppression was through armed resistance. Among…

Pennsylvania Station is finally getting much-needed renovation, but no amount of construction will bring back the bygone Beaux-Arts architectural magnum opus of the 20th century. Designed by McKim, Mead, & White, the original terminal opened in 1910. It boasted 84 granite Doric columns and its monumental architecture echoed the great spaces of Ancient Rome. The…