Naming New York: Manhattan Places and How They Got Their Names

by Sanna Feirstein

Overview

A comprehensive compilation and explanation of Manhattan's streets, alleys, avenues, plazas, parks and corners

New York is the oldest continually occupied city in America, yet its rich history is largely obscured by development. New Yorkers are surrounded by hundreds of place names, from those that survive from Manhattan's earliest days as a Dutch trading post to those that reflect the city's rich colonial, African and immigrant heritage. They provide a veritable encyclopedia of the city's history. Buildings may come and go, but place names are surprisingly durable. Naming New York is a comprehensive compilation and explanation of the names of Manhattan's streets, alleys, avenues, plazas, parks and corners. It surveys names currently in use and includes the oldest and the newest honorific "add-on" names, from Astor Place to Yitzak Rabin Way.

Whether you're a history or trivia buff, tourist, or just fascinated by place names, learning about the origins of these mostly unexamined sources enriches one's experience of the city, and transforms a simple neighborhood errand into a trip through time.

For example:

Bowery: In the 17th century, Dutch farms known as "bowerij" were laid out in this section of Manhattan along the path of an old Indian trail. Known since that time as the Bowery, the thoroughfare became the first section of the Post Road from New York City to Boston.

Houston Street: For William Houstoun, 1757-1812, of a prominent Georgia family, who married a daughter of Manhattan landowner Nicholas Bayard III. The Georgia provenance of the name accounts for its pronunciation and spelling both of which distinguish it from the Texas city.

Wall Street: Follows the line of the city wall that the Dutch erected in 1653 across the northern perimeter of New Amsterdam to protect against attack from the British in New England.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814727126
Publisher:	New York University Press
Publication date:	04/01/2001
Pages:	207
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

Sanna Feirstein is a docent at the New-York Historical Society.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Sanna Feirstein has given us an entertaining, lively and well-researched account of how the names of Manhattan's streets, squares, and neighborhoods came to be. This book can be read for pleasure and profit by history buffs and tourists alike. Hats off!"

-Kenneth T. Jackson,Columbia University and Editor-in-Chief of The Encyclopedia of New York City

"Sanna Feirstein has compiled a fascinating study of the derivation of New York City's street names, ranging from the most obvious to the most obscure. She has turned up information that will surprise even those who know the city well. Everyone who relishes walking through New York City will enjoy this invaluable resource."

-Andrew S. Dolkart,author of Morningside Heights

"Naming New York is more than a compendium of names, it is a mini-encyclopedia unto itself, a paradise regained for anyone interested in why places are named what they are. This is great stuff."

-John Tauranac,author of Manhattan Block by Block

"Even natives to the Big Apple are unlikely to know many of the facts that Feirstein has uncovered in this little gem."

-Publisher's Weekly

Editorial Reviews

"Sanna Feirstein has given us an entertaining, lively and well-researched account of how the names of Manhattan's streets, squares, and neighborhoods came to be. This book can be read for pleasure and profit by history buffs and tourists alike. Hats off!"

Kenneth T. Jackson

Even natives to the Big Apple are unlikely to know many of the facts that Feirstein has uncovered in this little gem.

Publishers Weekly

Ever wondered why Wall Street is called that? Because it follows the line of the palisade wall that the Dutch erected across the northern perimeter of New Amsterdam in 1653 to protect against attack from the British. It is exactly this kind of place name information about Manhattan's streets, avenues, plazas, parks, and corners that this thorough compilation provides. Whether discussing the names derived from the original Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam or the places named after modern notables, Feirstein, a docent at the New York Historical Society, maintains a friendly tone that does not diminish this tome's educational value. Peppered with various historical illustrations, this is a fun read for any New Yorker or for those planning to visit the city, but it may be a bit over the head of those familiar with only the most notable landmarks of the city. Recommended for public libraries with a strong clientele interested in the history of the Big Apple.--Sandy Knowles, Henderson Cty. P.L., NC Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

New York Historical Society docent Feirstein has written a historically rich guide to New York City that will entertain both New Yorkers and tourists as they walk through the Big Apple. The histories of the city's major neighborhoods, as well as the history of their names divide the book into sections, the remainder of which contains the names of streets, parks, plazas, corners, alleys, and avenues in that neighborhood and the history of each name. The guide is illustrated with b&w photos of New York's illustrious folk. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"Naming New York is more than a compendium of names, it is a mini-encyclopedia unto itself, a paradise regained for anyone interested in why places are named what they are. This is great stuff."

John Tauranac

"Sanna Feirstein has compiled a fascinating study of the derivation of New York City's street names, ranging from the most obvious to the most obscure. She has turned up information that will surprise even those who know the city well. Everyone who relishes walking through New York City will enjoy this invaluable resource."

Andrew S. Dolkart

"Naming New York is more than a compendium of names, it is a mini-encyclopedia unto itself, a paradise regained for anyone interested in why places are named what they are. This is great stuff."

-John Tauranac,author of Manhattan Block by Block

"Sanna Feirstein has compiled a fascinating study of the derivation of New York City's street names, ranging from the most obvious to the most obscure. She has turned up information that will surprise even those who know the city well. Everyone who relishes walking through New York City will enjoy this invaluable resource."

-Andrew S. Dolkart,author of Morningside Heights

"Sanna Feirstein has given us an entertaining, lively and well-researched account of how the names of Manhattan's streets, squares, and neighborhoods came to be. This book can be read for pleasure and profit by history buffs and tourists alike. Hats off!"

-Kenneth T. Jackson,Columbia University and Editor-in-Chief of The Encyclopedia of New York City

"Even natives to the Big Apple are unlikely to know many of the facts that Feirstein has uncovered in this little gem."

-Publisher's Weekly

From the Publisher