New York City Timeline of Events

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New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment...

Timeline of Events

1524

4.17.1524

Giovanni da Verrazzano reaches New York harbor.

1647

5.11.1647

Peter Stuyvesant arrives in New Amsterdam to replace Willem Kieft as Director-General of New Netherland, the Dutch colonial settlement in present-day New York City.

1653

2.2.1653

New Amsterdam (later renamed The City of New York) is incorporated.

1657

4.20.1657

Freedom of religion is granted to the Jews of New Amsterdam (later New York City).

1665

6.12.1665

England installs a municipal government in New York City (the former Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam).

1730

4.8.1730

Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in New York City, is dedicated.

1756

3.17.1756

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in New York City for the first time (at the Crown and Thistle Tavern).

1783

11.25.1783

American Revolutionary War: The last British troops leave New York City three months after the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

12.4.1783

At Fraunces Tavern in New York City, US General George Washington formally bids his officers farewell.

1788

9.13.1788

The Philadelphia Convention sets the date for the first presidential election in the United States, and New York City becomes the country's temporary capital.

1789

4.1.1789

In New York City, the United States House of Representatives holds its first ''quorum'' and elects Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as its first House Speaker.

4.30.1789

On the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, George Washington takes the oath of office to become the first elected President of the United States.

1790

1.8.1790

George Washington delivers the first State of the Union Address in New York City.

2.1.1790

In New York City, the Supreme Court of the United States attempts to convene for the first time.

12.6.1790

The U.S. Congress moves from New York City to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1793

12.9.1793

New York City's first daily newspaper, the ''American Minerva'', is established by Noah Webster.

1807

8.17.1807

Robert Fulton's first American steamboat leaves New York City for Albany, New York on the Hudson River, inaugurating the first commercial steamboat service in the world.

1816

5.6.1816

The American Bible Society is founded in New York City.

1819

7.3.1819

The Bank of Savings in New York City, the first savings bank in the United States, opens.

1825

6.11.1825

The first cornerstone is laid for Fort Hamilton in New York City.

1831

12.31.1831

Gramercy Park is deeded to New York City.

1837

5.10.1837

Panic of 1837: New York City banks fail, and unemployment reaches record levels.

9.18.1837

Tiffany and Co. (first named Tiffany & Young) is founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and Teddy Young in New York City. The store is called a "stationery and fancy goods emporium".

1843

2.6.1843

The first minstrel show in the United States, The Virginia Minstrels, opens (Bowery Amphitheatre in New York City).

10.13.1843

In New York City, Henry Jones and 11 others found B'nai B'rith (the oldest Jewish service organization in the world).

1849

2.14.1849

In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes the first serving President of the United States to have his photograph taken.

1857

3.23.1857

Elisha Otis's first elevator is installed at 488 Broadway New York City.

1859

4.4.1859

Bryant's Minstrels debut "Dixie" in New York City in the finale of a blackface minstrel show.

1860

2.27.1860

Abraham Lincoln makes a speech at Cooper Union in the city of New York that is largely responsible for his election to the Presidency.

1863

7.13.1863

New York Draft Riots: in New York City, opponents of conscription begin three days of rioting which will be later regarded as the worst in United States history.

1864

11.25.1864

American Civil War: A group of Confederate operatives calling themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan starts fires in more than 20 locations in an unsuccessful attempt to burn down New York City.

1865

1.4.1865

The New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent headquarters at 10-12 Broad near Wall Street in New York City.

1866

4.10.1866

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded in New York City by Henry Bergh.

1868

2.16.1868

In New York City the Jolly Corks organization is renamed the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

1870

2.10.1870

The YWCA is founded in New York City.

2.26.1870

In New York City, a demonstration of the first pneumatic subway opens to the public.

1872

2.20.1872

In New York City the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens.

9.26.1872

The first Shriners Temple (called Mecca) is established in New York City.

1875

12.4.1875

Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison and flees to Cuba, then Spain.

1876

6.4.1876

An express train called the ''Transcontinental Express'' arrives in San Francisco, California, via the First Transcontinental Railroad only 83 hours and 39 minutes after leaving New York City.

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