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The museum is open today 10 am - 5 pm
34th Ave, Queens, NY 11106
open today 10 am - 5 pm
34th Ave, Queens, NY 11106
open weekdays 9 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM - 4 PM

NYC's Story:
The City on Record

NYC's Story:
The City on Record

NYC's Story:
The City on Record

About DORIS This Museum Is About The Italian Renaissance Painter Sandro Botticelli Established in 1977, the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) preserves and provides public access to the historical and contemporary records of New York City government. DORIS oversees the Municipal Archives, the Municipal Library, and the Records Center. NYC’s Story: The City on Record celebrates 400 years of city history through founding documents, visual materials, and written accounts—capturing both defining events and everyday moments in New Yorkers’ lives. A team of DORIS employees explored our archives and library collections and selected items that address three core questions: Who is a New Yorker? How was NYC built? What makes NYC, NYC? These questions help us understand the city’s past and shape a better future.

About DORIS & the Exhibit

 Black and white photograph of Surrogate Court building showing horses and passerby Black and white photograph of Surrogate Court building showing local shuttle wagon and passerby. Black and white photograph of front of surrogate court building showing sections of city hall park Black and white photograph showing surrogate court and Municipal Court buildings in the background and overhead passageway connection to Brooklyn Bridge. Color photograph from 1940s of front of Surrogate Court building showing passerby Black and white image from the 1970s in front of surrogate court building showing cars and passerby.

Established in 1977, the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) preserves and provides public access to the historical and contemporary records of New York City government. DORIS oversees the Municipal Archives, the Municipal Library, and the Records Center. NYC’s Story: The City on Record celebrates 400 years of city history through founding documents, visual materials, and written accounts—capturing both defining events and everyday moments in New Yorkers’ lives. A team of DORIS employees explored our archives and library collections and selected items that address three core questions: Who is a New Yorker? How was NYC built? What makes NYC, NYC? These questions help us understand the city’s past and shape a better future.

By the Numbers: The Legacy Behind NYC’s Archives

These figures highlight the scale, history, and impact behind the Hall of Records and the Department of Records & Information Services. From a century-old landmark building to more than 400 years of preserved city history, each number reflects the depth of New York’s archival story. Together, they offer a quick snapshot of the heritage that powers this digital exhibit.

0
Years of NYC History Preserved and Counting
0
Years Since the Hall of Records Was Completed
0,000
Square Feet of Historic Archives Space
0
Average Number of Visitors Per Year
0
Average Number of Research Inquiries Received Every Month
0
Million Historical Photos Available Online

Acknowledgements

Contributors
Cynthia Brenwall, Melissa Cardinali, Kenneth Cobb,
Katie Ehrlich, Lauren Gilbert, LaTonya Jones, Alix Kay, Marcia Kirk,
Sylvia Kollar, Rossy Mendez, Melissa Minnich, Matthew Minor,
Rose Nagle-Yndigoyen, Eleanor Prince, Pauline Toole
Website / Creative Design

About DORIS

Established in 1977, the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) preserves and provides public access to historical and contemporary records and information about New York City government. We operate the Municipal Archives, the Municipal Library, and the Records Center.

About the Exhibit

NYC's Story: The City on Record is a celebration of 400 years of New York City history, told through city government’s records. The records in the exhibit include founding documents, visual and written accounts of notable moments in the city's history, and documentation of everyday life in New York City. The exhibit explores three questions: Who is a New Yorker? How was NYC built? What Makes NYC, NYC? The goal of the exhibit is to help us understand the city's past andplan for a better future.

Stay in the know. Get updates from NYC’s archives.

NYC's Story: The City On Record​

The Department of Records & Information Services preserves and provides public access to historical and contemporary records and information about NYC government.

More About DORIS

Find out more about the NYC Department of Records at: nyc.gov/records

Any person who believes that inclusion of an item on this site violates his or her exclusive rights should notify us by contacting the designated agent in compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act DMCA. Before using any images from this site, please review our Terms and Conditions.

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