Columbia University
Maap | Mapping the African American Past
MAAP lessons, developed at Teachers College, Columbia University, help teachers at all levels engage in content through stories about building community, resisting slavery, and contributing to New York City's development. Lessons are...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: America in the 1920s: Modern City in Film
The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards - historical documents, literary texts, and works of art - thematically organized with notes and discussion...
Other
Nyc 100: Immigrant Stories and Information
Read immigration stories of families enduring the hardships to start a new life in America. The site contains stories as well as links to immigrant resources.
Other
100 Years of Manhattan's Garbage
"What could you smell on the streets of New York in 1890?" An interesting question that this paper answers well by examining an exhibit at the New York Public Library entitled "Garbage: The History and Politics of Trash in New York City."
Other
Beyond Mannahatta: The Welikia Project
The Welikia Project examined what the landscape of New York City looked like in 1609. Use the map to explore the city then and compare it to today. Provides a collection of thirteen lessons for upper elementary but which can be adapted...
Other
New York Public Library: Early New York [Pdf]
A teacher package explaining how to use the included primary resources with students. Questions and writing prompts accompany original images of early New York, Henry Hudson's experiences, colonial leaders, and people who lived in New...
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: May 4: Early Manhattan & Bird Day
Read about the early history of New York City and a special day in May called Bird Day. Page contains images and hyperlinks to other resources, such as historical maps and documents.
Library of Congress
World Digital Library: Manhattan Lying on the North River
A historic map of Manhattan created by cartographer Joan Vinckeboons around 1639 for the Dutch West India Company. A feature on the page allows the visitor to listen to and read the accompanying descriptive text in seven different...
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Interactive Map: Manhattan in 1609: Dutch New York
Explore Dutch New York through this historical interactive map and learn what wildlife, landscape, and people lived there in 1609 compared with today. Click on 'Interactives' for additional resources, e.g., a 1626 letter from Peter...
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet: New York City
Lonely Planet travel site provides beautiful photos along with a detailed history, geography and top attractions of New York City.
Other
Brooklyn Public Library: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1841 1907
An online resource containing Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspapers from 1841-1907.
Other
New York Discovery and Settlement
Gain an understanding of the settlement of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Ellis Island: Oyster Island
Before Ellis Island was an immigrant processing center, it was visited by Algonquin peoples to harvest the oyster beds, hence the name 'Oyster Island' which was given to it by the Dutch. Two other islands in the same area were also...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Ellis Island: Colonial and Early American New York 1609 1890
Provides an overview of the history of New York and of how the United States government came to acquire Ellis Island. Fort Gibson was built there prior to the War of 1812 to serve as a strategic post in case of attack.
Other
History of Central Park, New York
Use this site to learn the history of famous Central Park. Discover how it was built, the people that visit it, and the park today.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Central Park History
Discover facts and interesting information about the history and construction of Central Park, Manhattan, New York.