If you’ve ever visited the New-York Historical Society, you’ve probably seen the bronze statue of abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass welcoming visitors to the 77th St. entrance. On July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York, Frederick Douglass delivered a speech that came to be known as, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” …

This 4th of July, we are digging into Frederick Douglass’s speech “What to the slave is the fourth of July.” And we start by considering Douglass himself. Who better to help us understand than David Blight, the Sterling Professor of History, of African American Studies, and of American Studies and Director of the Gilder Lehrman…

This post is part 1 of our 4-part series on this year’s finalists for the annual Children’s History Book Prize. Join us here on our History Detectives blog over the next few weeks as we interview the authors to learn more about their amazing books. We invite you to read all four finalists, then help…

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…

Written by Rachel Walman This Saturday and Sunday, families who come to the Museum can meet living historians portraying the 6th Regiment of Infantry, United States Colored Troops (USCT). (“Colored” was considered a neutral term for African Americans in the 1800s, but it is considered derogatory today.) The men who served in this unit were…

If you joined us at our Superheroes/Supernatural Halloween Bash or walked past the Museum over the weekend, you already know that our statues were all decked out in superhero costumes this year to celebrate our special exhibition Superheroes in Gotham. A big thank you to everyone who voted in our statue costume contest! The winning…

Last Halloween, trick-or-treaters were greeted by Frederick Douglass dressed as a stalwart sailor on 77th Street, while goblins and ghouls passing by the New-York Historical Society on Central Park West were welcomed by Abraham Lincoln in full Captain America regalia. These two historic American heroes will be getting into costume once again, as a part…

In case you missed it, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were all dressed up for Halloween last Friday – in the costumes that you voted for! The winning costumes were sailor and Captain America – check out the transformations below! Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln weren’t the only ones decked out for Halloween on our…

Last year, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln got in the spooky spirit of All Hallows’ Eve by donning costumes for the New-York Historical Society’s annual Halloween party. Douglass stood guard as a noble Jedi Knight on 77th Street and Lincoln greeted passersby as a heavyweight boxing champion on Central Park West. Dressing up was such…