The Alexander Hamilton Immigrant Achievement Awards are awarded to foreign-born naturalized citizens of the United States of America who have made outstanding contributions to Lower Manhattan and New York State.

Alexander Hamilton commissioned architect John McComb Jr. to design a Federal style country home on a sprawling 32 acre estate in upper Manhattan. This house was completed in 1802, just two years before Hamilton’s death, and was named “The Grange” after the Hamilton family’s ancestral home in Scotland. The house remained in the family until 1833. Since that time, the Grange has been moved two times, in 1889 to its location at 287 Convent Avenue and most recently to its new home in nearby St. Nicholas Park. The National Park Service manages the site as a National Memorial.

Hamilton Grange was the home of Alexander Hamilton, who was the first United States Secretary of the Treasury, a Founding Father, and a political philosopher. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Independence National Historical Park preserves the core landscape of America’s founding, encompassing the buildings, squares, and memorials where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated, adopted, and first put into practice. Spread across 55 acres in the heart of Philadelphia, the park brings together 18th‑ and early‑19th‑century civic structures, archaeological sites, museums, and commemorative monuments that trace the political, social, and intellectual life of the early republic. Often called “America’s most historic square mile,” it remains the nation’s most concentrated collection of Revolutionary‑era landmarks.&nbsp;Key Sites Within the ParkFounding Government Buildings•&nbsp; Independence Hall•&nbsp; Congress Hall•&nbsp; Old City Hall•&nbsp; Philosophical Hall•&nbsp; Library Hall&nbsp;Museums &amp; Interpretive Centers•&nbsp; Independence Visitor Center•&nbsp; Benjamin Franklin Museum•&nbsp; Great Essentials Exhibit•&nbsp; Portrait Gallery in the Second Bank of the United States&nbsp;Franklin Court Complex•&nbsp; Benjamin Franklin’s House Site•&nbsp; Franklin Court Printing Office•&nbsp; Franklin Post Office &amp; Museum&nbsp;Squares &amp; Landscapes•&nbsp; Independence Square•&nbsp; Washington Square•&nbsp; Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution•&nbsp; The Signer Monument&nbsp;Monuments &amp; Sculptures•&nbsp; Commodore John Barry Statue•&nbsp; George Washington Statue (Independence Hall)&nbsp;Civic &amp; Economic Buildings•&nbsp; First Bank of the United States•&nbsp; Second Bank of the United States•&nbsp; Carpenters’ Hall•&nbsp; Merchant’s Exchange Building&nbsp;Historic Residences &amp; Additional Structures•&nbsp; Todd House•&nbsp; Bishop White House•&nbsp; New Hall Military Museum•&nbsp; City Tavern Site

An African Burial Ground was established in 1690, eventually containing 15000 graves of free and enslaved Africans; it was rediscovered in 1991 when construction was beginning on the Federal Building.Historians estimate there may have been as many as 10,000&ndash;20,000 burials in what was called the "Negroes Burial Ground" in the 1700s. In 1794 2nd African Burial Ground replaced the first African Burial Ground after original ground was decommissioned by the Common Council. In 2010 African Burial Ground National Monument Rodney Leon's winning competition entry design was dedicated as the African Burial Ground National Monument.The current site of the African Burial Ground consists of the outdoor monument, adjacent to the Ted Weiss Federal Building at 290 Broadway, which holds an interpretive center on the first floor for the burial ground. The center features 5 public artworks commissioned and funded by the General Services Administration. "Unearthed" by Frank Bender, sculptor and forensic artist, is a bronze sculpture inspired by three of the individuals removed from the burial ground. "America Song" by Clyde Lynds is a sculpture composed of granite, concrete and fiber optics, and features an Indian headdress and feathers. At night, the sculpture is illuminated by the fiber optics.

Congress Hall is the historic building on the west side of Independence Hall that served as the meeting place of the United States Congress from 1790 to 1800, during Philadelphia’s decade as the nation’s capital. Completed in 1789 as the Philadelphia County Courthouse, the building was adapted for federal use when the new government under the Constitution relocated from New York. The House of Representatives met in the large chamber on the first floor, while the Senate convened in the more ornate second‑floor chamber, whose furnishings and decorative details reflected the upper chamber’s formality and prestige.During its tenure as the seat of Congress, the building witnessed several defining moments in early American history, including the inaugurations of George Washington (his second term) and John Adams, the ratification of the Bill of Rights, and debates that shaped the nation’s financial system, foreign policy, and territorial expansion. After the federal government moved to Washington, D.C., in 1800, Congress Hall returned to local civic use before becoming part of Independence National Historical Park. Today it is preserved as a museum site, offering visitors a direct connection to the formative years of the American republic and the chambers where the country’s early legislative foundations were laid.

Giovanni da Verrazzano first observed the village’s residents – Canarsie-speaking Lenape, who called the island “Pagganck,” which means “nut island,” so named for the area’s abundance of hickory nut trees.&nbsp;

Colonel William Prescott commanded the Colonial forces (New England militia) at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He oversaw the overnight construction of the redoubt on top of Breed's Hill - where the Bunker Hill Monument now stands. He is effectively considered to have been the commander of the redoubt. When dawn broke and British cannon opened fire on his position, accounts identify Prescott walking on top of the dirt walls of the redoubt, showing the men they had nothing to fear under fire.This over life-sized bronze statue shows him with his sword&mdash;the symbol of command&mdash;in his right hand. With his left hand, he signals his troops to hold their fire, waiting for the enemy to draw nearer. Before the battle, Prescott put aside his heavy uniform coat and tricorn hat in favor of a lightweight coat and shady hat. The cast-off military attire is shown at Prescott`s feet. The statue is the work of the American sculptor William Wetmore Story, who lived in Rome. It was cast there and erected beside the Bunker Hill monument in 1881. Courtesy of Boston Art Commission.

The Dutch bought Kioshk as a gift for Michael Reyniersz Pauw, who had helped found New Netherland. When the Dutch settled the area as part of New Netherland, the three islands in Upper New York Bay—Liberty, Black Tom, and Ellis Islands—were given the name Oyster Islands, alluding to the large oyster population nearby. The present-day Ellis Island was thus called "Little Oyster Island". Little Oyster Island was then sold to Captain William Dyre c.?1674, then to Thomas Lloyd on April 23, 1686. The island was then sold several more times, including to Enoch and Mary Story. During colonial times, Little Oyster Island became a popular spot for hosting oyster roasts, picnics, and clambakes because of its rich oyster beds. By the 1760s, Little Oyster Island became a public execution site for pirates, with executions occurring at one tree in particular, the "Gibbet Tree".&nbsp;

 Ellis Island is an island that is located in Upper New York Bay in the Port of New York and New Jersey, United States. It was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States as the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with land reclamation between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the site of Fort Gibson and later a naval magazine. The island was made part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965, and has hosted a museum of immigration since 1990. Long considered part of New York, a 1998 United States Supreme Court decision found that most of the island is in New Jersey.[4] The south side of the island, home to the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital, is closed to the general public and the object of restoration efforts spearheaded by Save Ellis Island. 

The Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center, was an innovative example of “Park Service Modern” architecture, designed by Ehrman Mitchell and Romaldo Giurgola as part of the National Park Service’s Mission 66 program. Its concrete, glass, metal, and wood design evokes the ideas of flight, lightness, and technological innovation, while floor-to-ceiling windows provide views toward the First Flight Boulder and historic flight line. The building houses exhibits on the Wright brothers, including a full-scale replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer and a reproduction of their 1902 glider. Widely recognized for its architectural importance, the Visitor Center was designated a National Historic Landmark and underwent a major rehabilitation between 2016 and 2018 to preserve its historic character and modernize its systems.

The statue was initially called Liberty Enlightening the World and was meant as a gift from France to the United States, celebrating the country’s independence. At first, the statue was assembled in pieces, with financing for the project proving to be difficult.The torch-bearing arm was first displayed in Philadelphia at the Centennial Exposition in 1876 and the head was exhibited at the Paris World’s Fair in 1878.The statue was completed in France in 1884, but money was still needed to complete the pedestal in New York. Eventually, a donations drive spearheaded by publisher Joseph Pulitzer attracted over 100,000 contributions and the pedestal was finished by April 1886.

The statue's internal structure of wrought iron trusses is an early example of the skeleton frame engineered by A. Gustav Eiffel. The frame, which at 151 feet equals the height of a 15-story building, supports the exterior copper "curtain wall" of Liberty's garments.<a href="https://culturenow.org/people/the-skyscraper-museum?name=The_Skyscraper_Museum">[1]</a>&nbsp;Located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and liberty. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886. It became a World Heritage Site in 1984. The island was extensively restored and reopened on July 4, 1986, shortly before the Statue's centennial in October 1986. The island is open to the public.Donated by citizens of France to celebrate Franco-American friendship, the Statue of Liberty is significant for its physical and symbolic characteristics. Richard Morris Hunt prepared the plans for the 89 foot high pedestal; French engineer Alexandre Gustav Eiffel designed the iron framework which supports the copper sheathing. Many consider this frame noteworthy in itself, because of its ability to support an irregularly-shaped structure subject to high winds. Symbolically, the Statue of Liberty reflects the political ideals of the late nineteenth century. It commemorates America's founding principles of liberty, freedom, and opportunity in America for all. More than sixteen million immigrants passed by the Statue of Liberty on the way to the Ellis Island Immigration Station.President Grover Cleveland gave a speech. Mayor Grace presented the freedom of the city. The very first Ticker tape parade followed soon after.A nautical parade began at 12:45 p.m., and President Cleveland embarked on a yacht that took him across the harbor to Bedloe's Island for the dedication. De Lesseps made the first speech, on behalf of the French committee, followed by the chairman of the New York committee, Senator William M. Evarts. A French flag draped across the statue's face was to be lowered to unveil the statue at the close of Evarts's speech, but Bartholdi mistook a pause as the conclusion and let the flag fall prematurely. The ensuing cheers put an end to Evarts's address. President Cleveland spoke next, stating that the statue's "stream of light shall pierce the darkness of ignorance and man's oppression until Liberty enlightens the world". Bartholdi, observed near the dais, was called upon to speak, but he declined. Orator Chauncey M. Depew concluded the speechmaking with a lengthy address.

Around 1699, de Peyster donated part of his garden for the construction of a new city hall. That building was later renamed Federal Hall, which briefly served as the first capitol of the United States, and the site of the first inauguration of George Washington as president. It was replaced in 1842 with the Greek Renaissance structure that stands there today.

Overshadowed today by its towering neighbors, the Greek Revival temple stands on what the New Yorker's Eric Homberger called "sacred ground for the making of the American republic" —where George Washington was inaugurated, where the first Congress convened, and where the flesh, including what would become the Bill of Rights, was placed on the bare bones of the Constitution (a forty-five-hundred-word document that never mentions the word "democracy") —during the 531 days when New York City was the nation's first capital. Even before that, it was the site of John Peter Zenger's trial, which provided the foundation for press freedoms; the Stamp Act Congress in 1765, where a formal coalition of the colonies was first suggested; and the Congress of the Confederation, from 1785 to 1789.The building would first be repurposed as a customs house, which, as New York dominated the nation's maritime trade, would generate most of the federal government's revenue by the mid-nineteenth century. Then the building would be transformed into a fortified branch of the United States Treasury, whose impregnable vaults would guard the largest repository of gold in the world.Its triple service-in the names of democracy, commerce, and capitalism-elevate Federal Hall to an unrivaled role in shaping the city's heritage. It symbolizes, the New York Times said, "Americas turbulent political babyhood and financial manhood. Decades after the new president and the first Congress reached one agreement after another on the enduring structure of the federal government, the diarist and former New York City mayor Philip Hone delivered a toast to the old Federal Hall that evoked the site's synonymy with the grand bargain: "It witnessed the greatest contract ever made in Wall Street." The national government's decision to decamp from Philadelphia and Trenton to New York, at least for the time being, was enthusiastically welcomed by the city's Common Council, which generously agreed to accommodate the out-of-towners by remodeling City Hall at Wall and Broad Streets. (The site was aptly named: Wall Street was the northern perimeter of where the Dutch stockade stood until the end of the seventeenth century; Broad Street was wider than most because it originally accommodated a canal that connected to the East River).&nbsp;

The U.S. National World War II Memorial is a National Memorial dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during World War II. Consisting of 56 pillars and a pair of arches surrounding a plaza and fountain, it is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

America begins in New York:- Kenneth T. Jackson, the Columbia University historian, likes to say. New York's tolerance for or, at least, indifference to diversity spread west to the rest of the country. Embodied by the Statue of Liberty, that philosophy defined America to the rest of the world through accounts that immigrants sent home.In 1830, fewer than one in ten New Yorkers were foreign-born. Within two decades, nearly half were. Yet when the statue was dedicated in 1886 (six years before Ellis Island opened), the only immigrants mentioned were the "illustrious descendants of the French nobility" who had fought on behalf of the United States against Britain during the American Revolution.Her official name was Liberty Enlightening the World, and her donor's agenda was to burnish France's republican roots after the oppressive reign of Napoléon Ill and to foster stronger bonds with America. But it was the words of a fourth-generation American whose father was a wealthy sugar refiner and whose great-great-uncle welcomed George Washington to Newport, Rhode Island, that almost single-handedly-if belatedly- transformed the monumental statue in New York Harbor into a "Motherof Exiles" who beckoned generations of immigrants.Emma Lazarus's "New Colossus," with its memorable appeal to "give me your tired, your poor," was commissioned for a fund-raising campaign to pay for the statue's pedestal. Lazarus accepted the commission begrudgingly - few poets relish the idea of writing on deadline. But she was stirred by a wave of pogroms against Jews in Russia and by her regular visits to poor immigrants housed in temporary shelters on Wards Island. Lazarus wrote the sonnet in 1883, having seen only the torch when it was on display in Madison Square Park."It was a moment of moral and spiritual recovery, after her attempts to raise money to benefit the Russian-Jewish refugees of 1881-82 had largely fallen on deaf ears," said Esther Schor, her biographer and an English professor at Princeton University.The sonnet would survive periodic efforts to excise Lazarus's reference to "wretched refuse" and would become enshrined in the political lexicon in the 1930s as an anthem for Americans who, with war again threatening in Europe, lobbied to reverse immigration quotas imposed a decade earlier.Finally, in 1903, after relentless lobbying by Georgina Schuyler, a friend of Lazarus who was descended from Alexander Hamilton (himself an immigrant), it was affixed on a bronze tablet just inside the entrance to the pedestal. "An ex post facto inscription," as the art historian Marvin Trachtenberg wrote, that would elevate the values of immigration.TEXT FROM SAM ROBERTS &nbsp;101 OBJECTS

In 1883, William Maxwell Evarts and author Constance Cary Harrison asked Lazarus to compose a sonnet for the "Art Loan Fund Exhibition in Aid of the Bartholdi Pedestal Fund for the Statue of Liberty" - an art and literary auction to raise funds for the Statue's pedestal run by the American Committee for the Statue of Liberty. In turn, Lazarus, inspired by her own Sephardic Jewish heritage, her experiences working with refugees on Ward's Island, and the plight of the immigrant, wrote "The New Colossus" on November 2, 1883. After the auction, the sonnet appeared in Joseph Pulitzer's New York World as well as The New York Times. She died in New York City on November 19, 1887, most likely from Hodgkin's lymphoma and was buried in New York City at Congregation Shearith Israel's Beth Olom Cemetery in Cypress Hills, Queens.Lazarus' famous sonnet depicts the Statue as the "Mother of Exiles:" a symbol of immigration and opportunity - symbols associated with the Statue of Liberty today. After its initial popularity however, the sonnet slowly faded from public memory. It was not until 1901, 17 years after Lazarus's death, that Georgina Schuyler, a friend of hers, found a book containing the sonnet in a bookshop and organized a civic effort to resurrect the lost work. Her efforts paid off and in 1903, words from the sonnet were inscribed on a plaque and placed on the inner wall of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Today, the plaque is on display inside the Statue's pedestal, and an exact replica of the plaque can be found inside the Statue of Liberty Museum.

Ellis Island has had numerous names throughout its history. Its current iteration was established in the 1770s, when Samuel Ellis became the island's private owner. The Federal Government purchased the island in the early 1800s to fortify its harbor defenses, and when it took over immigration control from the State in 1890, immigrant arrivals were shifted to Ellis Island. The original 1892 wooden structures actually burned down five years after being erected.

The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington. The monument, made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, is both the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk.Designed by architect Robert Mills in the 1840s, construction of the stone obelisk began in 1848, halted at half height in 1856, then resumed from 1876-1884. Achieving a height of 555 feet, the Washington Monument surpassed the Cologne Cathedral as the world's tallest structure–but only briefly. In 1889, the Eiffel Tower asserted the new age of metal construction.<a href="https://culturenow.org/people/the-skyscraper-museum?name=The_Skyscraper_Museum">[1]</a>

Originally erected in 1808-1811 as the Southwest Battery for the War of 1812, Castle Clinton was part of the NY Harbor Coastal Fortification system. It was originally located 300 feet offshore and connected to Manhattan via a bridge. The castle itself was converted to administrative headquarters for the Army. Simultaneously, at the end of the war, there was a public movement to build a park in the Battery area.

 Castle Clinton or Fort Clinton, previously known as Castle Garden, is a circular sandstone fort located in Battery Park, in Manhattan, New York City. Built from 1808 to 1811, it was the first American immigration station, predating Ellis Island, where more than 8 million people arrived in the United States from 1855 to 1890. 

The World Trade Center Memorial design competition drew 5,201 entries from 63 nations. In 2004, architect Michael Arad, with landscape architect Peter Walker, won with Reflecting Absence. Arad became a partner at Handel Architects shortly after.

The Memorial site is a public space for meditation and contemplation, centered around two reflecting pools that sit in the footprints of the original World Trade Center Towers. Lining the perimeter of each fountain is a parapet of victims’ names, arranged and inscribed according to a system of “meaningful adjacencies.” The pools are clad in Jet Mist granite, and the names panels are made of bronze that has been treated with a ferric based patina. At night, the names are illuminated from within. The fountains rest within a new plaza that acts as a sacred ground for those coming to honor the victims, while also integrating the Memorial into the surrounding city.&nbsp;

The 9/11 Memorial Glade recognizes the courage, selflessness, and perseverance of the men and women of the rescue and recovery effort. The Glade’s design includes a pathway flanked by six large stone monoliths, ranging from 13 to 18 tons, that are inlaid with World Trade Center steel accompanied by an inscription at either end of the pathway. Their design incorporates steel from the original World Trade Center site.&nbsp;

The Lower Manhattan Historical Association ("LMHA") holds a parade through Lower Manhattan every year starting 2015.This parade is part of a resurgence of patriotic activities in Lower Manhattan on July 4, after a long hiatus from 1976 to 2015. It is in recognition of the recent growth of Lower Manhattan as one of the City's fastest growing residential neighborhoods and as one of the City's major centers of historical tourism.The parade, which traverses Wall Street and passes many of the historic monuments in Lower Manhattan - is designed to provide marchers and spectators with an understanding of the tremendous historic importance of Lower Manhattan.

Alexander Hamilton Immigrant Achievement Awards Ceremony 2022

Michael Arad is an Israeli-American architect who best known for being the designer of the World Trade Center Memorial. He won the competition to design the memorial in 2004.&nbsp;Michael Arad’s design for the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site, titled “Reflecting Absence,” was selected by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation from among more than 5,000 entries submitted in an international competition held in 2003. Mr. Arad joined Handel Architects as a Partner in April 2004where he worked on realizing the Memorial design as a member of the firm.&nbsp;A native of Israel, Mr. Arad was raised there, the U.K., the United States, and Mexico. He came to the United States and earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1994 and a Master of Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1999.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Arad became a resident of New York City following his studies. He worked for Kohn Pedersen Fox in the city before joining the Design Department of the New York City Housing Authority, where he was working during the Memorial competition.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2006 Mr. Arad was one of six recipients of the Young Architects Award of the American Institute of Architects. In 2012, he was awarded the AIA Presidential Citation for his work on the National September 11 Memorial. In addition, he was also honored in 2012 by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council with the Liberty Award for Artistic Leadership. His work on the Memorial was recognized with Honor Awards from the AIA and ASLA.&nbsp;In 2017 Mr. Arad was selected to design a memorial to the victims of the 2015 Charleston church massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Wellington Chen is a first-generation Asian American with a lifelong interest in community resuscitation. He is a highly respected public servant and long-time community advocate and planner. Mr. Chen--a long-time NYC resident--was deeply involved in community revival, including the Downtown Flushing revitalization efforts. Wellington was also the first Asian American to serve on a community board in Queens and a local LDC. He co-founded an affordable housing company in 1989 to rehab and help to stem the housing crisis.An architect by training, he worked for I.M. Pei and Partners. He served as a member of Community Board 7 for over 13 years, and is currently on the boards of the Bowne House Historical Society; Coro NY Leadership Center; DASNY; Governor’s Island Community Advi-sory Board; GrowNYC: The NYC Landmarks Preserva-tion Commission (LPC); the Lower Manhattan Histor-ical Society; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the NYC Regional Economic Development Council; YMCA of Greater NY, etc. Wellington was born in Taiwan and grew up in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Brazil before coming to America to complete his architectural and environmental studies.

Mark Levine, Manhattan's 28th Borough President, brings decades of public service experience and a deep care for the people of Manhattan. He believes in the power of local governance to create lasting change and improve the city for future generations. Since taking office in 2022, he has prioritized equity, resilience, and the well-being of everyday New Yorkers, especially marginalized communities. His initiatives include the Million More Trees plan to expand green spaces in underplanted areas, the Manhattan Small Business Booster Loans program providing interest-free loans to pandemic-affected entrepreneurs, and the establishment of an NYC Waterfront Protection Agency for coastal resiliency projects. He also advocates for congestion reduction, cycling infrastructure, and transparent civic engagement. With a background as a teacher, community organizer, and City Council member, Mark's values emphasize compassion, cultural understanding, and curiosity. He has fought for tenants' rights, public health, equity in education, and improved transportation. Mark holds degrees from Haverford College and Harvard University and resides in Washington Heights with his wife and two sons.

Ambrose Madison Richardson III was born in Chicago, grew up in Illinois and Tennessee. He graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School and attended graduate school at the Harvard University and the University of Virginia. He is a past president of the Sons of the RevolutionSM in the State of New York, which owns and maintains Fraunces Tavern® and Fraunces Tavern® Museum, and past General Secretary of the General Society of the Sons of the RevolutionSM. He is currently President of the Lower Manhattan Historical Association and the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York.

James Kaplan is a tax and estate attorney. He is a walking tour historian who has extensively studied New York's history and has given more than 250 walking tours of various parts of New York City. He has also written articles on New York's history for the Wall Street Journal, Newsday, and Last Exit Magazine.

Architectural historian Gail Cornell talks about the history of Foley Square and the African Burial Ground.

 Historian Barry Moreno explains Ellis Island's history as an immigration station and eventually a deportation center. He speaks in detail about the immigrants' experience within the building as they were processed through the center, in addition to speaking about how United States immigration laws shaped Ellis Island's role as an immigration station. 

Arthur Platt presents the Lower Harbor segment of the tour, beginning with Ellis Island and ending with One Madison Park.

 Jean Parker Phifer, NYC architect and author of Public Art New York, reads a selection on the Statue of Liberty, located on Liberty Island in NY Harbor. 

Historian Barry Moreno details the history of Lady Liberty, from her construction in France to her thousands of tours daily.

 Historian Barry Moreno discusses Castle Clinton's varied history, from its years as an immigration station to its decades as a performance space. He describes its brief career as an aquarium, and its near destruction to make room for the Battery Tunnel. 

Michael Arad talks about "Reflecting Absence", the memorial at the 9/11 Memorial.

 At the second stop, on Broadway at Chambers Street, James Kaplan discusses the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, and the story of George Washington and the theft of the cannon at Ticonderoga in 1776. He also talks about the Surrogate's Court Statues of Pieter DeVries, Caleb Heathcote, DeWitt Clinton, Phillip Hone, Abram Hewitt, Peter Stuyvesant, Cadwallader Colden, and James Duane (the name behind Duane Reade). 

Historian James Kaplan explains the presence of this dwarfed building next to Rockefeller Center: the former home of Hurley's Bar. 

Historian James Kaplan discusses Al Smith, an Irish immigrant, who grew up on the Lower East Side and became a powerful Tammany Hall politician in New York State. 

Historian James Kaplan discusses Jack Dempsey, an Irish-American boxer who was born in Colorado. 

 Kaplan discusses the Battle of Long Island, the disastrous American army defeat and their escape across the East River to Manhattan. New York City remains British until the end of the war, and NYC is struck by a fire on September 21, 1776. 

 The fourth stop on the Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District is in front of the former headquarters of both the Seligman Brothers and the Lehman Brothers financial companies. Interestingly, while the Seligman Brothers were financial backers of the Union Army in the Civil War, the Lehman Brothers backed the Confederate Army because much of the money came from cotton plantations in the South. 

The Jewish Arrival tour ends at the Shearith Israel Graveyard. While some Jewish communities in New York considered America their new religious home, others wanted to form a Jewish base in Israel. James Kaplan discusses the founding the State of Israel and its roots with the first Jewish immigrants to New York City.

According to Historian James Kaplan, after WWII, the most important employment was the Docks. The Docks went into decline in the late 1950s because cargo shifted to airlines, and was also routed through New Jersey. Kaplan discusses the politics and history of this site.

At the turn of the 18th Century, Jews were typically pro-Democrat. The Bank of Manhattan was founded by Aaron Burr, a leader of the Democratic party. It was built to rival the Bank of New York, which exercised a monopoly of banking in the US.

 Historian and lawyer James Kaplan discusses the history of Fraunces Tavern, the former headquarters of the United States government. Now a museum, Fraunces Tavern was once the De Lancey House. Oliver De Lancey, a loyalist in the American Revolution, eloped with Phila Franks, daughter of Jacob Franks and Abigail Levy, who were leaders in the Shearith Israel Congregation. 

Historian James Kaplan concludes his Irish History tour of Hells Kitchen.

 With a succession of three strong leaders - Kelly Croker and Murphy - Tammany Hall became the driving force behind New York City's politics and the backing force of its successful political leaders. 

 The fifth stop on the Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District is on Mill Lane This one block-long street is the oldest in New York City. The Dutch built a mill here, which they used to grind the bark that was used to tan beaver skins. In 1628, the first organized religious service was held on this street, and the Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrendered to the British here 1664. 

Historian James Kaplan discusses both Rockefeller Center as well as the founding of Tammany Hall.

Historian James Kaplan introduces his walking tour of Hell's Kitchen, which discusses the neighborhood's evolution from mobsters to the successful fight in the 1970's against porno and pimps. 

                                            
                                            
                                            
                                                Historian James Kaplan discusses the central role the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus played in Irish Catholic life. 
                                            
                                        

 The second stop on the Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District is the British Memorial Garden, which was dedicated to the United Kingdom after in memory of the 67 British subjects killed in the September 11 attacks. At this location once stood a statue of Colonial Mayor Abraham De Peyster, which now sits in a Parks Department warehouse. 

The third stop on the Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District is in front of 55 Water Street. The building was once the largest private office building in New York City. It is now home to the India House, which houses a large collection of maritime objects.

At the statue of Nathan Hale in City Hall Park, Kaplan discusses Hale's life and significance, and the history of City Hall.

This section of the tour describes how Harlem came to be the destination for many people escaping the increasingly violent racism of the turn-of-the-century South, eventually earning the status of The Capital of Black America.

World War One was an important event for Harlem, which saw many residents sent to France to fight on the front lines. Earning the nickname 'The Hellfighters' and decorated with one of France's highest honors, these soldiers returned to Harlem as heroes. But despite their sacrifices, race relations in the United States did not see any of the hoped for improvement - the post-war period in saw several vicious race riots throughout the country.

In the post-war years, Harlem became a cultural center, where important Black artists lived and worked. This period became known as the 'Harlem Renaissance'. 

Historian James Kaplan discusses the Hell's Kitchen Rumble between the Irish and Puerto Rican gangs that took place near this park. 

The Tammany Society, which was a precursor to the Democratic Party, used to meet on Park Row near Pace University. The Tammany Society was pro-immigration and many of its members fought anti-Semitism.&nbsp;At this stop, James Kaplan also discusses important Jewish female writers like Emma Lazarus and Wendy Wasserstein, as well as immigration's influence on the evolution of the Jewish faith.

 The sixth stop on the Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District is in front of the former Goldman-Sachs building and near Millennium High School. Millennium High School was the first high school built south of Fulton Street in decades, and its presence reflects the neighborhood's evolution from strictly business to more residential. At this stop, the tour guides delve into the question "Why does the market crash always seem to happen in the fall?" 

Historian James Kaplan discusses Hell's Kitchen's rise from poverty, central to which was the proliferation of the theater arts.

Welcome to HarlemNOW's Harlem: The Capital of Black America tour. This is a recording of a walking tour given by attorney and historian James Kaplan and Olivia Kaplan. The tour visited various places of historical significance in central Harlem.&nbsp; This section of the tour discusses the growth of Harlem from the draft riots of the Civil War to the Great Depression. First considered a German and then a Jewish neighborhood, Harlem began to see significant numbers of Black residents by the turn of the century. Instrumental to this growth were the Black churches and Black-owned realty companies battling against exclusionary housing practices in central Harlem.&nbsp; This new Black "Capital" was to become the home of many organizations devoted to racial justice, such as the NAACP.

This section of the tour begins with the life of writer Langston Hughes. A mosaic in the Schomburg celebrates Hughes's poem 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers'.

Marcus Garvey was a Harlem resident and Black nationalist speaker. His organization, the Universal Negro Improvement Association, his ideas of Pan-Africanism, and the travels of his vessel The Yarmouth were important forerunners to future African independence movements.

The tour ends with a discussion of the role of Adam Clayton Powell and his Abyssynian Baptist Church on the economic desegregation of Harlem. 

 Joseph Seligman and his brothers founded J &amp; W Seligman &amp; Company banks. During the Civil War, his bank helped to finance the Union Army. In 1877, however, he and his family were denied their stay at the Grand Union Hotel, one of the first cases of anti-semitism in the United States to gain national notoriety. 

James Kaplan discusses the American troop situation in New York in 1776, the people who were arrested and incarcerated on the prison ships.

 Historian and lawyer James Kaplan details the life of Mordecai Noah, one of the first Jewish Americans to serve in the US government. In the 1820s, Noah one of the leaders of Tammany Hall, which was once located on Park Row, then called Chatham Street. 

Historian James Kaplan discusses Manhattan Plaza, a high rise tower in Hell's Kitchen that is home to thousands of artists. 

Historian James Kaplan discusses Hell's Kitchen's close ties with Irish mob came, who controlled much of the liquor coming into New York City during Prohibition.&nbsp; &nbsp;

 At Bowling Green, Kaplan talks about Evacuation Day, the departure of the British from New York City, and Charging Bull, a popular statue representing the spirit of Wall Street and American capitalism. 

The Theater District was also known as the Tenderloin, for its long history of prostitution rings, pimps, and porno shops. 

In 1840, a French Priest in Syria was alleged to have been murdered by Jews. Nine Jewish nobles were falsely convicted and set to be executed for the murder. A coalition of Jews in New York, led my Mordecai Noah, urged the US to protest the execution. Jews around the world pressured their governments to protest the executions, and the prisoners were finally released. It was the first incidence of international Jewish solidarity and support to protest antisemitism.

Historian James Kaplan explains the central role of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York-Irish life and its place in the fight against anti-Catholic prejudice.

At John Street Methodist Church, Kaplan discuses the battle of Golden Hill, which he describes as New York's Boston Massacre.

Historian and lawyer James Kaplan retraces the footsteps of the first Jewish immigrants to arrive in the United States, 23 Portuguese Jews whose ship landed at Bowling Green in 1654.&nbsp;

 The Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District begins inside the Museum of American Finance, which was once the main banking hall of the the Bank of New York. This unique walking tour delves into the political, financial, real estate and architectural history of Wall Street and New York City. The tour shows that despite such adversities as the Great Fires of 1776 and 1835, financial panics of the 19th century, the 1920 Wall Street explosion, the Crash of 1929, the stock market collapse of 1987, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and the financial crisis of 2008, New York and Wall Street have always recovered their position as the world's financial capital. 

In an act of guerrilla art, the Bull was installed on December 15, 1989, in front of the New York Stock Exchange. However, the Bull was not commissioned by the New York City Government and it was promptly impounded. &nbsp;Recorded during the live Great Crashes of Wall Street Tour.&nbsp;

On the third stop of the tour, James Kaplan discusses the controversial life of Thomas Paine: his early life, the publishing of Common Sense and The Crisis, the Silas Deane Affair and Paine's downfall, his involvement in the French Revolution, and his death in 1809.

Historian and lawyer James Kaplan explains Wendy Wasserstein's contributions to American theater and in particular her successful plays produced by the Playwrights Horizons theater.

Historian James Kaplan discusses the Becker Rosenthal Murder. Rosenthal was a Jewish gambling boss; Becker was an NYPD officer.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Historian and lawyer James Kaplan explains the Jewish-founded financial group Goldman Sachs's contributions to the US government. The US Secretary of the Treasury for President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush were both former Chairmen of Goldman Sachs.

 The ninth stop on the Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District is at the epicenter of American finance - the intersection of Broad Street and Wall Street. At 23 Wall Street is "The Corner," the original home of JP Morgan Bank. In 1920, a carriage loaded with explosives was detonated in front of the building in an act of domestic terrorism. The pock marks from the explosion are still visible in the marble facade. 

 The seventh stop on the Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District is in front of 60 Broad Street, the former home of the now defunct Drexel Burnham Lambert. When this tour first started more than 20 years ago, Drexel Burnham Lambert was one of the most important firms on Wall Street, but several illegal trading convictions in the late 1980s led the firm to its collapse in 1990. 

 Historian James Kaplan elaborates on George Washington Plukitt, a leader in Tammany Hall who was defeated by one of his own lieutenants. 

Historian and lawyer James Kaplan details the history of the now defunct Lehman Brothers financial firm. The Lehman Brothers made their fortune in cotton trading and, as such, were heavily invested on the Confederates' side of the Civil War. The Lehman Brothers purchased 1 William Street from the J &amp; W Seligman &amp; Company in 1928 and headquartered themselves there until 1980.

Al Smith was raised in the Lower East Side and attended St. James School. &nbsp;He rose through the ranks of the Tammany Democratic Party to win election as Governor and in 1928 lost the Presidency to Herbert Hoover. &nbsp;

 This is the introduction to the July 4 all-night walking tour of Lower Manhattan: Celebrating New York City's Role in the Revolutionary War and Gravesites of Revolutionary War Generals. James Kaplan begins with the history of pre-revolutionary New York. 

At Trinity Church, the highlight of the tour, Kaplan discusses the landmark Battle of Saratoga and the significance of General Horatio Gates, who, shamefully, was buried at Trinity Church in an unmarked grave.

Historian James Kaplan discusses Al Jolson, a famous Broadway entertainer and actor who had the leading role in the first talking motion picture. 

 The Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District ends on Wall Street in front of the Trump Building, formerly the Bank of Manhattan building. Richard describes the turbulent ownership histories of many of the buildings on Wall Street and the difficulties associated with owning and leasing a skyscraper. James relates anecdotes about the Trump Building, where he personally worked for 15 years. 

Kaplan discusses the historic Fraunces Tavern/Museum, the location of Washington's farewell address to his troops. The tavern remains today, owned by the Sons of the Revolution.

Kaplan discusses the history and significance of St. Paul's Church, the oldest private building in NYC, from Benedict Arnold to 9/11.

Historian and lawyer James Kaplan asks listeners to use their imaginations as he describes the site of Shearith Israel Synagogue that once stood near 22 William Street. The first synagogue in North America, it was built in 1730. As the surrounding neighborhood - which would become the Financial District - became more industrial, congregants left the site to build synagogues in Greenwich Village and Upper West Side.

Alexander Hamilton Immigrant Achievement Awards Ceremony 2022

Other participants

ABOUT

EVENT IMAGES AND DRAWINGS

IMAGES