The history of the United States Postal Service as it plays out in the streets of New York City -- from the first post road to the first postage stamps. From the most beautiful post office in the country to the forgotten Gilded Age landmark that was once considered the ugliest post office.The postal service has always served as the country's circulatory system, linking the densest urban areas to the most rural outposts, a necessary link in moments when the country feels very far apart in other ways. The early American colonies knew this. Benjamin Franklin knew this The Founding Fathers who placed the postal service within the Constitution knew this.And inventions such as the stagecoach, the steamship, the railroad, the pneumatic tube and even the electric car have helped keep the mail steadily flowing over the centuries.New York has even played a pivotal role in the development of the American mail service, from the creation of the Boston Post Road (the first mail road which snaked through Manhattan and the Bronx) to the first mail boxes. Even the first postage stamps were sold in New York -- within former church-turned-post office in lower Manhattan.Why are there so many post offices from the 1930s? Why is New York's largest post office next to Penn Station? And why does New York City have so many individual ZIP codes? And who, pray tell, is Barnabas Bates?Visit our website for more information and imagesMore information here on the Bowery Boys: Gilded Age Weekend This episode was produced and edited by Kieran Gannon

A special bonus episode! Two years ago we featured Patrick Bringley on the show, the author of All The Beauty In The World (Simon & Schuster), regarding his experiences as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the life lessons he learned strolling silently past priceless works of art.The book has become a massive best-seller worldwide and has even become a cultural phenomenon in South Korea, selling more than a quarter million copies in that country alone. So we thought we'd bring Patrick back to the show, on the occasion of his new off-Broadway show based on the book.How do you transform an off-Broadway stage into the Metropolitan Museum of Art? What life lessons can you absorb from walking around museumThis episode was edited and produced by Kieran GannonTickets to All The Beauty In the World here.

Bestselling author Russell Shorto, known for his works on New Amsterdam and New York's history, joins the discussion. He delves into how New Amsterdam transformed into New York City in 1664, highlighting pivotal figures like Richard Nichols and Peter Stuyvesant. Hear about the international warfare and political maneuvering that defined this era. Shorto also reveals the lesser-known historical figure responsible for the name change, providing a delightful blend of intrigue and insight into the city's fascinating origins.

Julie Golia and Julie Carlson, curators at the New York Public Library, discuss the centennial of The New Yorker magazine. They share insights on its glamorous origins linked to the Algonquin Round Table and its transformation through the decades. The duo highlights Eustace Tilly, the magazine's iconic mascot, and explorations of early contributors' impact. Listeners will also discover how the publication has adapted to changing media landscapes while maintaining its unique voice and style throughout a storied history.

Delve into New York City's cinematic landscape as hosts explore award-winning films like 'Anora' and 'The Brutalist' that showcase iconic locales. They celebrate the nostalgic impact of movies, especially musicals like 'Wicked,' reflecting on how they shape our memories. A special nod is given to the legacy of film critics Siskel and Ebert, alongside personal movie experiences recorded from a theater balcony. The discussion spans generational musical tastes, capturing the essence of storytelling in film and its emotional resonance.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Alain Locke's classic essay "The New Negro" and the literary anthology featuring the work of Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen and other significant black writers of the day.The rising artistic scene would soon be known as the Harlem Renaissance, one of the most important cultural movements in American history. And it would be centered within America's largest black neighborhood -- Harlem, the "great black city," as described by Wallace Thurman, with a rising population and growing political and cultural influence.During the 1920s, Harlem became even more. Along "Swing Street" and Lenox Avenue, nightclubs and speakeasies gave birth to American music and fostered great musical talents like Count Basie, Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington. Ballrooms like the Savoy and the Alhambra helped turn Harlem into a destination for adventure and romance.What were these two worlds like -- the literary salons and the nightclubs? How removed were these spheres from the everyday lives of regular Harlem residents? How did the neighborhood develop both an energetic and raucous music scene and a diverse number of churches -- many (like the Abyssinian Baptist Church) still around today?Visit the website for more details and more podcastsGet tickets to our March 31 City Vineyard event Bowery Boys HISTORY LIVE! hereAnd join us for our Gilded Age Weekend in New York, May 29-June 1, 2025. More info here.This episode was edited by Kieran Gannon

One of America's first great Italian neighborhoods was once in East Harlem, once filled with more southern Italians than Sicily itself, a neighborhood almost entirely gone today except for a couple restaurants, a church and a long-standing religious festival.This is, of course, not New York's' famous "Little Italy," the festive tourist area in lower Manhattan built from another 19th-century Italian neighborhood on Mulberry Street. The bustling street life of old Italian Harlem exists mostly in memory now.If you wander around any modern American neighborhood with a strong Italian presence, you'll find yourself around people who can trace their lineage back through the streets of Italian Harlem. Perhaps that includes yourself.But it's not all warm nostalgia and fond recollections. Life could be quite hard in Italian Harlem, thanks to the nearby industrial environment, the deteriorating living conditions and the street crime, the early years of New York organized crime.So who were these first Italian settlers who left their homes for what would become a hard urban life in upper Manhattan? What drew them to the city? What traditions did they bring? And in the end, what did they leave behind, when so many moved out to the four corners of the United States?Visit the Bowery Boys website for more adventures into New York City historyThis show was produced by Kieran Gannon.FURTHER LISTENING: Past Bowery Boys episodes with links to this show-- The Story of Little Italy-- Nuyorican: The Great Puerto Rican Migration-- Columbus CircleJoin us on Patreon for extra podcasts and lots of other goodiesShare your love of the city’s history with a Bowery Boys Walks gift certificate! Our digital gift cards let your loved ones choose their perfect tour and date.Grab a Bowery Boys tee-shirt, mug or water bottle at our merchandise store.

The iconic Waldorf Astoria is set to reopen in 2025, celebrating its storied past as a luxury hotel and social hub. Discover the hotel’s extraordinary history, including its glamorous guests and pivotal role in U.S. politics. Learn about the legendary culinary contributions of Oscar Cherky, creator of the famous Waldorf salad. Delve into the secrets of Platform 61, the hidden railroad platform linked to FDR. From opulence to controversy, this landmark reflects the changing tides of New York City's rich legacy.

There were very few history podcasts around back in the year 2008, but the Bowery Boys Podcast was certainly here ... and so was The Memory Palace, hosted by Nate DiMeo, presenting small, often forgotten vignettes from history in a descriptive, narrative format.In this special interview episode, Greg talks with Nate on the occasion of his new companion book "The Memory Palace: True Short Stories of the Past" (Penguin Random House) which features many of his fable-like historical portraits, including many from New York City history -- from revolutionary amusements on Coney Island to less frequented corridors within the Metropolitan Museum of ArtAnd Greg and Nate go deep on the relationship between history and memory, on the reliability of memory to help us relive the past and how our own experiences can help fill in the gaps within histories that seem lost to us today. Featuring a couple of elephants, the Wallendas, Parks and Recreation, the X-Men, a very large painting of Versailles, and the big secret about the monster hiding in your closet right now.Listen to episodes of The Memory Palace here. it's also available on Spotify, Apple and the other podcast players, the same places you find the Bowery Boys. This episode was produced by Kieran Gannon. To donate to those affected by the California wildfires, head over to these verified fundraisers at GoFundMeJoin us on Patreon for extra podcasts and lots of other goodiesShare your love of the city’s history with a Bowery Boys Walks gift certificate! Our digital gift cards let your loved ones choose their perfect tour and date.Grab a Bowery Boys tee-shirt, mug or water bottle at our merchandise store. 

Just the name "Tiffany" evokes the glamour and elegance of the Gilded Age. But there is much more to the story than just the eponymous retailer who continues to sell fine jewelry and decorative objects today. In this episode of the Gilded Gentleman podcast, Carl Raymond is joined by Lindsy R. Parrott, the Executive Director of The Neustadt Collection, one of the country's most important collections of Tiffany glass and archival materials, to discuss the two Tiffanys - Charles Lewis Tiffany who began the original retail silver and jewelry and his son Louis Comfort Tiffany who created revolutionary designs in stained glass.   Subscribe and follow The Gilded Gentleman Podcast for more tales of America during the Gilded Age.This episode was edited by Kieran Gannon