The world’s first cruise ship, the Prinzessin Victoria Luise, opened for business—but mostly for pleasure—in 1901. The Hamburg-American line vessel contained only first-class cabins, each of which was “brilliantly lighted by electricity,” outfitted with electric bells,  steam-heated, and ventilated. At the time, these were luxury amenities even more impressive than the ship’s marine golf deck…

At the New-York Historical Society, we mount exhibitions that directly connect American history and art to you, our visitors. This summer, we will present Madeline in New York: The Art of Ludwig Bemelmans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the beloved schoolgirl and the iconic illustration and writing of her creator. The story of Madeline‘s author Ludwig Bemelmans mirrors that…

In February 1935, Parker Brothers began selling their classic board game Monopoly, a game of money and real estate that has become an American favorite. It has also caused numerous screaming matches in my household. How many of your readers have flipped a table when your friend has blocked you from being able to build…

The New-York Historical Society aims to engage visitors and history buffs of all ages, from children in our DiMenna Children’s History Museum to adults through our Public Program series. So it’s always great to see someone stay engaged throughout their lives. One lifelong learner is Laura Mosco, a former Student Historian who came back to…

Nearly 100 years ago, the RMS Titanic sank in the Atlantic after striking an iceberg. Over 1,500 died, and the event continues to serve as a cautionary tale of the dangers of overconfidence. There were many who risked their lives to save those on the sinking Titanic, including Sir Arthur Henry Rostron. Rostron was the  master of…

On July 11, 1804,  Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury and Aaron Burr, Vice President, rowed to Weehawken, NJ to participate in a duel. Longstanding bad blood between the two men—fueled by Burr’s taking a senate seat over Hamilton’s father-in-law and Hamilton’s defamation of Burr during the 1804 gubernatorial race—finally boiled over, and Hamilton agreed…

What was life like for the Newsies of New York? Day to day these poor, often abandoned, sometimes immigrant children sold newspapers on New York City streets in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, trying to earn enough to pay for a bed for the night just to start again the next morning. But eventually, these…

When did the Civil War take place?  What was the name of the war that brought America its independence? Who did we even declare independence from? You probably know the answers, and if so you’re apparently better informed than many American students and citizens.  The Huffington Post recently posted this video called “Lunch Scholars,” in which…

What was your proudest memento from your time at school? Is it the catapult you built for your physics class? The research paper that earned you an A? Your high school diploma? For many schoolgirls in New York in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it was their needlepoint.  Helping to hone skills in everything from manual dexterity…