This timeline was produced by students in the Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, in collaboration with Professor Grayzna Drabik and Instructional Technology Fellow Dana Milstein.
This timeline, which describes places representative of Old New York, starts here.
Henry Hudson sails up the North River, now the Hudson River, and comes into contact with Native Americans in the area that is now known as Harlem.
The West Indian Company settled in the area of One Bowling Green and where Fort Amsterdam was built. "Even before that, [the US Customs House] sits on top of the site that used to be Fort Amsterdam, the administrative headquarters of the Dutch during British rule. The guns used for the original artillery battery formed what is now, appropriately named, Battery Park."
The Native Americans "officially" sell Manhattan to Peter Minuit.
Peter Claesen arrives at New Amsterdam from Holland at the age of twelve. "The house start[s] out as one room that [is] pretty small and [has] to fit the entire family." The house during this time had only one room. "The walls were made of hand cut timber. Insulation in the walls was provided using a technique called cobbing, which the Dutch learnt from the Indians. Corncobs were used in between the timber. Oyster shells were used as covering of plaster."
First Quakers arrive in New Amsterdam.
Thirty-one English Quakers signed a petition, known as the Flushing Remonstrance, demanding freedom of religion.
John Bowne and John Rodman purchased three acres of land adjoining a graveyard for the construction of a meeting house that would later become the symbol of religious liberty in America.
John Bowne and fellow Quakers in New Amsterdam built the Flushing Quaker Meeting House. It has been in constant use except for the temporary time during the Revolutionary War when it served as a stable, hospital and a storage place. Today it continues to serve its original purpose with its doors open for all. Silent Meeting for Worship is held on every First Day (Sunday) at 11 A.M.
The first of three Trinity Churches receives its charter from King William III of England. Although it had already been founded for over a year (1696), it wasn't until 1697 that it was an official church.
The Morris-Jumel mansion was initially built as a summer house for British Colonel Roger Morris and his wealthy American wife Mary Phillipse Morris. Set on a scenic hill in uptown Harlem, the mansion was ideal for getting away from the hustle and bustle of downtown life. Because of its location on top of a hill, George Washington used it as a base during the battle of Harlem Heights. Although winning the battle wasn't a big strategic victor, it served as a moral boost for the general and his troops who had yet to win a battle in the war. The mansion was then bought by the Jumel family who often hosted elaborate parties to show off their wealth. After Eliza Jumel's death at the age of 90 the estate was divided among her heirs and sold off until only the main building remained standing. In 1904 the city of New York decided to preserve the mansion by making it a museum. Today it stands in its former glory on Edgecombe Avenue, between 160th and 162nd Streets and is open to visitors.
General George Washington establishes the headquarters of the army during the Battle of Harlem Heights. After becoming the first president of United States he returns on July 10, 1790 to dine with President John Adams, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and Secretary of War Henry Knox.
Trinity Church is rebuilt after being damaged by multiple fires. The construction began in 1788, and was not finished until 1790. During this time services were still held at St. Paul's Chapel, the chapel of Trinity Church. George Washington was a guest to the Thanksgiving service held by Bishop Provost.
The Hamilton Grange House, located in present Harlem, is completed.
Hamilton is shot and killed by his political rival, Aaron Burr, in a duel. The house remains with the Hamilton family for 30 years.
After passing through many different hands during and after the Revolutionary War. Eliza climbed from the bottom of the social ladder upon her marriage to Stephen and became one of the wealthiest women in Manhattan. Eliza was widowed after Stephens death and married Aaron Burr. They were divorced in under two years but Eliza remained in the house until her death in 1865 and the estate was broken up among her heirs.
St. Patrick's Old Cathedral is opened for service, becoming the second Catholic church in New York and the first Cathedral of the Diocese of New York. It represented the beginnings of the establishment of Catholics in New York.
St. Patrick's Old Cathedral was being threatened by an anti-Catholic nativist Know-Nothing mob so Bishop John Hughes received armed assistance from the Ancient Order of Hibernians to protect the Cathedral from getting destroyed.
The Eldridge Street Synagogue is the first Jewish house of worship built in America by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church moves the Grange House four blocks west, hiding the house among the urban growth of a once rural Harlem.
Ellis Island's Immigration Station was officially opened with Annie Moore, a 15year old Irish girl, becoming the first immigrant to pass through.On that day 700 other immigrants passed through the Immigration Station. Approximately 450,000 passed through that first year.
The Main Building on Ellis Island, designed to fit 5,000 immigrants per day, was opened. The building cost 1.5million to construct and was only one of the various additions to the island.
With aid from the strong patriotic tones of the late 1800’s, the City of New York was persuaded to purchase and restore the house, making the area where it's located a historic district. Previously, the Washington’s Headquarters Association, and now, the Morris-Jumel Mansion, Inc. operate and maintain the residence.
The US Customs House was completed. This building will later on house the Smithsonian collection of the arts and artifacts of the American Indians (see the National Museum, 1994).
1907 was the peak immigration year during the use of Ellis Island as the main Immigration port with 1,004,756 immigrants received, . 11,747 immigrants were processed on April 17th during this year, which was the most amount of immigrants processed on one day.
Ellis Island, with its 33 structures, was closed and declared excess Federal property.
Due to plummeting membership and donations during the Great Depression the synagogue no longer had the funds necessary to maintain the sanctuary. In 1955 it was finally closed off and all services were held downstairs.
St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral and its defensive wall and school, were named New York City landmarks. Ten years later, the cathedral and the school would also be place on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks.
The Flushing Quaker Meeting House was declared a National Historic Landmark.
"It is also one of the oldest wooden structures in this country, and the entire structure was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968." (Wyckoff Association)
The Wyckoff Farmhouse opened as a Museum. "Today, it is located on Clarendon Road and Ralph Avenue."
The Eldridge Street Project was founded to restore and renovate the Eldridge Street Synagogue and make it into a museum as well.
The National Museum of the American Indian was created. "One can't help but notice the Museum of the American Indian due to its grandeur of architecture style, Beaux Art" -Katherine "Upon arriving at Bowling Green, my initial reaction was the same as the first time: I was still captivated and amazed by the impressive architecture outside the building. It looked like New York City’s very own ancient Greek temple."
Shortly after the synagogue was named a National Historic Landmark in 1996, funds were raised to restore it to its original grandeur.
Now a museum, the House is relocated to St. Nicholas Park, where it is on grassy land reminiscent of its original glory.
"The Museum completed the Eldridge Street Synagogue restoration in December 2007, the synagogue’s 120th anniversary."
The magnificent and prized East Window is installed into the Eastern Wall of the synagogue. The design is by artist Kiki Smith and architect Deborah Gans.
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