“He lay on his bed reading late into the night, Hedwig swooping in and out of the open window as she pleased.” —J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone It’s a very magical time here at Museum as we celebrate 20 years of Harry Potter with the British Library exhibition  Harry Potter: A History…

Imagine you are just starting a new school year and your teacher gives you an assignment: create a scrapbook of news stories about the president of the United States. Then, unexpectedly, a terrifying international conflict brews while you’re on the president’s beat. The weeks of this assignment end up being so memorable that you hold…

Meet the Living Historians Bringing Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow to Life Planning a trip to New-York Historical this fall or winter? Join us on Saturdays and Sundays to experience the past at one of our Living History programs. When you do, you’ll notice a few new faces helping us bring to…

In 1866 a ship departed from New York Harbor with an unusual group—nearly every passenger onboard was a young, unmarried women from Lowell, Massachusetts, leaving behind a life on the East Coast for the very different world of Washington Territory. In the press, these women came to be known as the “Mercer Girls,” named for…

In 2016 Firoozeh Dumas became the first-ever winner of our New Americans Book Prize for her wonderful novel, It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel. We were lucky enough to meet her when she accepted the award, and this year we were thrilled to welcome her back for our April 29, 2018, meeting of the Reading into…

Aaaand we’re back! If you haven’t read Part I of our in-depth conversation with Living Historian Michael Crutcher, who modeled for the Frederick Douglass statue outside of the New-York Historical Society’s 77th Street entrance, we suggest you start there. You’ll read all about how and why Michael chose to become a Living Historian who portrays…

Here’s your chance to meet George Washington! Well, not the real George Washington. We are of course talking about Living Historian and good friend of DiMenna Children’s History Museum, Michael J. Grillo! Michael not only portrays George Washington at museums and historic sites all over the place, he is also an experienced historical reenactor, tailor,…

Chugga chugga CHOO CHOO! The New-York Historical Society’s December School Vacation Week from December 26 – January 2 is all about trains. Friends big and small have been stopping by to check out Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection to journey on a special train scavenger hunt and join us for Train Tales and…

Written by Caitlin O’Keefe In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Reading into History Family Book Club welcomes award-winning author Marjorie Agosín via Skype for our September 10 meeting to discuss her sweeping novel I Lived on Butterfly Hill. Learn more about Agosín’s book, then check out our interview with her below. We look forward…