San Juan Hill community members gather to celebrate jazz musician and composer Thelonius Monk during the dedication of Thelonius Sphere Monk Circle at West 63rd Street in Manhattan.
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Explore footage of David N. Dinkins’ historic 1990 inauguration as New York City’s first Black mayor, featuring his speech, performances, and the official oath.
Video of Shirley Chisholm announcing her 1972 presidential campaign, becoming the first Black candidate under the Democratic Party.
President John F. Kennedy speaks at the 1964 World’s Fair site in Queens in 1962, ahead of the event marked by innovation and protest.
Watch Malcolm X speaking at a Nation of Islam rally, less than a year before his split from the organization to form Muslim Mosque, Inc and the Organization of Afro-American Unity.
Map showing farmland owned by formerly enslaved New Yorkers, with each plot labeled with the owner’s name.
Sample 2025 Democratic primary ballot showing ranked choice voting for Mayor, Comptroller, and Borough President.
Collage featuring the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Park and street scenes from Flushing and Jackson Heights, highlighting the vibrancy of Queens.
Steeplechase Park entertained visitors at Coney Island for 67 years, becoming a beloved seaside attraction and a hallmark of the area’s amusement history.
In 1946, American Airlines marked its first transatlantic flight by letting visitors tour a display aircraft near the Airlines Terminal building.
Chinatown residents march in 1937 Friends of China Parade celebrating Chinese heritage and protesting Japanese occupation.
On February 3, 1964, more than 450,000 students boycotted NYC schools to protest segregation, creating one of the largest civil rights demonstrations.