New York City Hoaxes

New York City has a colorful history of hoaxes, especially during the rise of the penny press. Competing newspapers sensationalized and even fabricated stories to capture readers' attention, such as the 1835 “Great Moon Hoax,” in which The Sun published a series of articles claiming that life had been discovered on the moon. Meanwhile, P.T. Barnum’s American Museum in the mid-1800s showcased “oddities” and “freaks” to entertain mass audiences, blending spectacle with fabricated lore to attract crowds and cementing his legacy in showmanship.