Lower Manhattan Historical Association

Evacuation Day Commemoration in NYC on Saturday

November 20, 2025 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the Lower Manhattan Historical Association will commemorate Evacuation Day, November 25, 1783, the day that – per negotiated arrangements between the American and British forces – the British Army debarked from New York City and the Continental Army entered.

This commemoration will be held at Noon at Evacuation Day Plaza, also known as Bowling Green, the site of the “charging bull” sculpture and flag pole, north of the old customs house, now the National Museum of the American Indian. [Read more…] about Evacuation Day Commemoration in NYC on Saturday

An Update on Efforts to Save the SS United States

March 28, 2025 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The effort to save the historic steamship SS United States continues. The New York Coalition to Save the SS United States has written to Okaloosa County, Florida, and President Donald Trump, who said in his speech to Congress on March 2nd that he would “create a new Office of Shipbuilding in the White House,” to request that sinking of the ship as an artificial reef off the coast of Florida be reconsidered.

Okaloosa County has so far rejected the request and President Trump has not responded. On February 19, after months of delay, the ship was moved by tow to a shipyard in Mobile, Alabama to prepare for its sinking; it arrived there on March 2nd.
[Read more…] about An Update on Efforts to Save the SS United States

American Presidents in New York City

February 11, 2025 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Every American President has passed through the City of New York. Some, like Theodore Roosevelt, were born there. Abraham Lincoln gave the famous speech at Cooper Union that launched his candidacy and sadly returned a few years later to City Hall in his casket. [Read more…] about American Presidents in New York City

Coalition Hopes To Bring Historic Ship to NYC

December 22, 2024 by Editorial Staff 51 Comments

The battle to save the SS United States, one of America’s most historic ships, which spent most of its career traveling between New York City and Southampton, England, continues. The SS United States Conservancy transferred ownership of the SS United States to Okaloosa County, Florida in order to convert the ship into the world’s largest artificial reef.

The Conservancy had failed in its effort to raise $500,000 to help cover the costs of preservation and reloceation from its pier in Philadelphia where it has sat virtually abandoned for decades. [Read more…] about Coalition Hopes To Bring Historic Ship to NYC

St. Paul’s Chapel in Lower Manhattan Seminar Planned

February 27, 2024 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

St. Paul’s Chapel, an episcopal church located at 209 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, opened in 1766 and is Manhattan‘s oldest surviving church building. It survived the fire of 1776 and was where many of the Founding fathers prayed. These included George Washington, who famously went there after his inauguration on April 30, 1789. [Read more…] about St. Paul’s Chapel in Lower Manhattan Seminar Planned

NYC Evacuation Day Celebration Set for November 25th

November 14, 2023 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

On November 25, 1783 the British military officially withdrew from the city of New York, their last stronghold in the American colonies, and George Washington’s army took control of the city, closing the final military chapter in the Revolutionary War.

The raising of the American flag on a greased pole at Bowling Green by Revolutionary War soldier John Van Arsdale symbolized this victory for more than 130 years. Until 1916 “Evacuation Day” was a major patriotic holiday in the city, comparable to July 4th (Independence Day). [Read more…] about NYC Evacuation Day Celebration Set for November 25th

General Horatio Gates in New York City: A Political Legacy

October 8, 2023 by James S. Kaplan 2 Comments

For many years New York City has not been known for its patriotic ceremonies recognizing important Revolutionary War heroes or sites.

Recently this has begun to change, beginning with the rediscovery of the grave of General Horatio Gates, who many consider the second most important American general of the American Revolution. Until about ten years ago his grave located in Trinity Churchyard in Manhattan was completely unmarked.

Gates was the commanding general at the Battle of Saratoga in October of 1777, which most historians agree was the most important battle of the American Revolution and the turning point of the Revolutionary War. He played another important role in early American politics in the city of New York after the war. [Read more…] about General Horatio Gates in New York City: A Political Legacy

4th of July in New York City: Recent History and 2023 Plans

June 26, 2023 by James S. Kaplan 3 Comments

From the end of the Revolution until the 1960s, Fourth of July celebrations in the city of New York were a major annual events. (You can read about that history here.)

During the 1970s, the most important July 4th event in New York City became the previously established Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island. The highly publicized event proved to be a huge success, but lacked historical context or political meaning. [Read more…] about 4th of July in New York City: Recent History and 2023 Plans

Why Not? The Return of Lafayette’s Hermoine in 2024

November 3, 2022 by James S. Kaplan 1 Comment

In 1992, the shipyard at Rochefort France where the Hermione – the ship that brought Lafayette to America – had been constructed in 1780 was apparently in decline.

Several local entrepreneurs conceived of the idea that a replica of the Hermione should be built and sailed to the United States as a goodwill gesture. It was hoped that the project would perhaps improve the local economy and also remind Americans of the important historical ties between the United States and France. [Read more…] about Why Not? The Return of Lafayette’s Hermoine in 2024

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik To Receive Religious Freedom Award

April 6, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Lower Manhattan Historical Association will honor the 292th anniversary of the consecration of the first synagogue in North America on April 8th. The ceremony will involve the presentation of the Gershom Mendes Seixas Religious Freedom Award to Rabbi Joseph Potasnik who has fostered Rabbi Seixas’ ideals of religious freedom. [Read more…] about Rabbi Joseph Potasnik To Receive Religious Freedom Award

Lower Manhattan Historical Association

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