Broadway

Wickquasgeck trail, Heeren Straat

Description

Broadway was originally called the Wickquasgeck trail by the First people's of Manhattan, the Lenape Indians. It ran north-south 14 miles, the entire length of Manhattan, following an original ridge of land, snaking through brush, swamps, and rocks.

Found, 1614

Mentioned, 1642

It became one of the two main streets formed during the settlement of the Dutch West India Company. The Dutch explorer and entrepreneur David Pietersz. de Vries gives the first mention of it in his journal for the year 1642 ("the Wickquasgeck Road over which the Indians passed daily"). Known at the time as de Heere Straat, or “Gentlemen`s Street,” (The original Dutch name) Broadway originated at Fort Amsterdam and followed a natural ridge of land that led northwards through the fields and farms of New Amsterdam. De Heere Straat extended to the wall that protected the Dutch colonists from English encroachment along present-day Wall Street. There were only two entry gates, with one situated on de Heere Straat opposite Trinity Church.

It was renamed "Broadway" after the British took over the city, because of its unusual width. Although currently the name of the street is simply "Broadway", in a 1776 map of New York City, it is labeled as "Broadway Street".

Modified, 1658

In 1658 Broadway was widened and paved by Stuyvesant to improve the wagon road linking New Haarlem to New Amsterdam, between Vesey and Murray.

Related Sites

Werpoes

Related Playlist

Walking the Streets of New Amsterdam Compilation

Timeline

1614

1635

1658+ 1

1733+ 1

1770

1771

1775

1776

1783

1786

1804

1806

1814

1823

1824

1836+ 1

1842

1846

1848

1850

1852

1854

1855

1856+ 1

1857

1858

1862

1870

1876

1892

1894

1895+ 2

1897

1904

1907

1913

1917

1919

1924

1927

1930

1931

1947

1951

1955+ 1

1969

1973+ 1

1977

1986

1989

1991

1997

1999+ 2

2001+ 1

2002+ 3

2005

2007

2008+ 1

2009

2013

2014

2016

2017+ 1

Images

18 ResultsShow less

Images

16 ImagesShow less

Broadway, 1860

Instantaneous Broadway view, 1860

Traffic, pedestrians and American and Japanese flags displayed on buildings welcoming Japanese embassy officials during their June 1860 visit to New York City

Broadway Tabernacle, Congregational churches, 1860

Buildings, traffic, National Bank Note Company building on the right of Broadway. Bank of the Republic Building appears to be draped in mourning bands, likely after the death of President Abraham Lincoln, 1865

Business establishments on Broadway, including the New York Hotel building and "Gurney's Gallery", Jeremiah Gurney's photographic studio (left side of image), 1869

Broadway from Liberty Street, 1896

Broadway with the Trinity spire in the background, between 1860 and 1870

Broadway & Trinity Church, 1890

Beggar Peddler - Woman holding a small child and a box of Wrigley's Spearmint gum, in front of a building on Broadway in New York City; pedestrians on sidewalk in background, 1909

New York City Aqueduct excavation site on Broadway, 1910-1915

Corner of Broadway Street with many people walking about, October 1952

Sign for Broadway Central Hotel and advertisement for Gotham Equipment Corp, December 1952_LOC

Sign for Commercial State Bank and "Hot Knishes" food cart at intersection of Spring Street and Broadway. Looking South on Broadway, November 1953

Drawings and documents

2 DocumentsShow less

Broadway fashions. For spring and summer 1866, published by E. Butterick, 192 Broadway, NY

Policeman escorting two women across Broadway, 1870

1658 - Modified

1 ResultShow less

1658 - Modified - Drawings and documents

1 DocumentShow less

Ratzer map of New York City, 1776

1614 - Found

2 ResultsShow less

1614 - Found - Drawings and documents

2 DocumentsShow less

1916 - Redrawn Castello Plan of New Amsterdam

1609 - Manahatta :A Natural History of New York City

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