A place name reaches “legend status” when it needs no further explanation—not even the city to which it attaches. New York City stands on its own, of course, but so do many New York places in their own right, contributing their own histories and historic figures to the legend of the city writ large.
WALL STREET
Chip O’Brien | 9:15-10:15 am | Wednesday, April 2
An actual wall stood there in the 1600s.Slave market to securities trading site, Wall Street means money. Retired financier Chip O’Brien trades his banker’s hat to delve into the street’s rich history.
CENTRAL PARK
Sara Cedar Miller | 9:15-10:15 am | Wednesday, April 9
Nearly 400 years and eight hundred acres of surprising history and dazzling beauty comprise Central Park. Historian and photographer Sara Cedar Miller leads this fascinating and beautifully illustrated adventure.
Copies of the author’s book Seeing Central Park are available for purchase at the lecture.
STATUE OF LIBERTY
Lou Storey | 9:15-10:15 am | Wednesday, April 16
Symbol of freedom and inclusivity, the statue evokes revolution, political alliances, and the creation of a colossus. Lou Storey recounts what he learned by designing a major exhibition on the Statue of Liberty.
BROADWAY
Debbie Hornsby | 9:15-10:15 am | Wednesday, April 23
Broadway boasts stages where the most memorable pageants of stagecraft, music, and American dreams have unfolded. TLC’s Debbie Hornsby visits the most historic of these theaters.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Lou Storey | 9:15-10:15 am | Wednesday, April 30
More than a public library, the lion-guarded Beaux-Arts edifice at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street has a history as rich as the city. Lou Storey, longtime exhibit designer at the NYPL, recounts the storied past.
HISTORIC HOUSES OF WORSHIP
Rosemary Mackey | 9:15-10:15 am | Wednesday, May 7
This ecumenical feast of notable and lesser-known churches and synagogues traces their histories and locations from before
the Revolution to now. Longtime New Yorker Rosemary Mackey offers a virtual tour.
GRAND CENTRAL
Gail Allen | 9:15-10:15 am | Wednesday, May 14
Vanderbilt’s 1860s “depot” became a 1900s Beaux-Arts masterpiece, which in turn became a 1970s preservation miracle. The breathtaking and storied rail hub springs to life via this lecture by Gail Allen.
HARLEM
Victoria Christopher Murray | 9:15-10:15 am | Wednesday, May 21
Named for the Dutch city in the 1600s, Harlem has meant Bohemian élan, Black poverty, and… a Renaissance. Author of the new Harlem Rhapsody Victoria Christopher Murray discusses her research.
Copies of the author’s book Harlem Rhapsody are available for purchase at the lecture.