History Lessons in NYC, New York

From the debauched slums of Victorian London to dry martinis and fancy cocktail parties,gin has had a remarkable journey, a story that reflects the ever changing moods and sensibilities of society at large. Like many other spirits, it began life in the alchemist’s workshop as a medicinal cure-all, a link it would retain as a mainstay of European...

Dinosaurs! Science! Adventure! Break out your pith helmet as we embark upon a brazen expedition through the halls of New York City's world-famous American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Join your maverick tour guide as we deftly navigate this massive 27-building, 1.6 million square foot landmark cultural institution. Learn the science...

In 1603, one of the momentous events in history occurred when the Scottish King, James VI inherited the throne of England following the death of his cousin Elizabeth. He combined his two nations and called them Great Britain – and all subsequent kings and queens of Britain are his descendants to the present day. The telling of British royal history...

Our experience is a journey from the 1500s to the present day. We’ll start with explorers trying to find a route to Asia but then encountered a new land. I’ll share Harlem’s role in the American Revolution and the meeting of Alexander Hamilton and General George Washington. Our group will discuss the Trans Atlantic Slave trade in North, Central...

Meet the badass Brooklynites who brought us the ballot. Behind the stately facades of Brooklyn Heights’ most gracious brownstones lies the history of firebrand feminism! The wise “women of Brooklyn” were doctors, lawyers, educators and orators who made some of the foremost contributions to the Suffrage movement. Join us for a walk through their...

Corrupt politicians. Crooked cops. Gangsters so terrifying that they’re known only as “Murder, Incorporated.” These are the men and women that have made New York City’s underworld the stuff of legend. But there is so much more to this legend than you’ve ever heard. Why is it that New York has had such a violent past? What drove these people...

From Countess Bathory to Belle Gunness, this lecture will cover a millennium of violence and mayhem committed by women. While not reaching the same depths of ill-deserved fame as their male counterparts, these women and their crimes provide a fascinating insight into what it meant to be a violent member of "the fairer sex."

Take a trip back in time with Forgotten New York's Kevin Walsh, who will present images from the early years of the website that has been cited in columns by the New York Times‘ David Dunlap and the late, great Christopher Gray and and by the New York Sun‘s Francis Morrone. It has twice been named to the Village Voice’s Best of NYC list, and...

The history of Coney Island is like nothing you’ve ever heard before. From prostitutes living in a giant tin elephant, to the invention of the hot dog, to a ride that’s so scary it actually made its riders pee themselves, and we’ll tell you all about it!  Join New York Local Tours as we explore the engaging history of Coney Island’s...

While history cable series and infotainment documentaries make up a great deal of entertainment content, Americans don’t really have a good grasp of their own history.  Historical memory is a tricky thing. Slight alterations of facts or context can greatly effect the perspective from which events are understood. The process of nation building...

On this walking tour, we’ll discover the life of pirates and prostitutes living in the scrappy Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, long before New York was New York. Step into the wooden shoes of the early settlers and see what life was like being an employee rather than a colonist. Based on exciting new research taking place over the last...

Shocks and Phantasmagoria: Walter Benjamin and the Arcades Project Walter Benjamin once wrote that The Arcades Project was “the theater of all my struggles and all my ideas.” Never completed and well over a decade in the making, The Arcades Project takes on the presentation and history of an entire era and place: the...

Money seems like a straightforward aspect of our daily lives. But underlying its everyday functionality in facilitating transactions, measuring the market value of goods and services, and serving as a store of wealth over time is a stubborn question about what money actually is. As the economist Perry Mehrling observes, “Money is always difficult,...

Each month, the Masters of Social Gastronomy take on a curious food topic and break down the history, science, and stories behind it. Up this month: MEAT ANALOGS! Sarah Lohman will give you a run-down of vegetarianism in the west. From Benjamin Franklin’s ”Tow-fu” to Dr. Kellogg’s commercial “Protose,” we’ll explore just how...

Emilia-Romagna, the wondrous region in northern Italy is filled with gorgeous cities rich in art, culture, music, history, fashion. Filled with UNESCO World Heritage sights, Emilia-Romagna is renowned for historic hotels like the 5-star Grand Hotel of Rimini and famed beach resort Palace Hotel, this region has world-beloved specialties including Parmigiano-Reggiano,...