New York City Firsts: Big Apple Innovations That Changed the Nation and the World

by Laurie Lewis

Overview

What do the credit card, Oreo, school nurse, and crossword puzzle have in common? All originated in New York City. These and about 300 other New York originals fill the pages of New York City Firsts. From colonial times through the present day, first-of-their-kind achievements occurred in New York in every imaginable field, from the arts to sports, from business to social welfare. These firsts ranged from life-changing accomplishments, such as the invention of air conditioning, to the downright silly. Cronuts, anyone?

The book provides a broad picture of the social history of America in general. What problems of the day cried out for solutions by daring individuals and bold ideas? How did people enjoy themselves at various points in history? In this most densely populated American city, where did residents live, and how did they get around?

New York City Firsts is for history lovers and trivia buffs regardless of where they live. It’s a fun read, a great gift, and a tantalizing diversion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493063048
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Laurie Lewis is freelance writer and editor who moved to New York from the Midwest in the mid-1980s. After being a volunteer tour guide of Central Park for 10 years, Lewis became the owner/operator of Take a Walk New York Tours which offers scheduled and private tours of New York City.

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Art 1

Hudson River School 2

Hamilton Statue 3

Diana 4

Father of Modern Gynecology 5

Abstract Expressionism 6

Familiar Subjects, Unusual Media 6

Earth Art 7

Buildings and Bridges 9

Cast Iron 10

Air Rights 11

Art Deco 12

Skyscrapers 12

Bridges 13

Business and Commerce 15

Chamber of Commerce 16

Department Stores 17

Bringing Electricity to Businesses and Homes 18

Millionaires 19

Credit Cards 20

Automated Teller Machine (ATM) 21

Coworking Space for Writers 22

Chain Restaurants That Started in New York City 23

Food and Drink 25

Hot Dog 26

English Muffin 27

Eggs Benedict 28

"Chinese" Food 28

Pizza 29

Other Italian Fare 30

Reuben Sandwich 31

Ice Cream 32

America's Favorite Cookie 33

Donuts and Cronuts 34

Sweeteners in Packets 35

Breweries 36

Cocktail Recipe Book 37

Cocktails 38

First Restaurant 39

Singles Bar 40

Government and Law 42

Stamp Act Congress 43

First Capital of the United States 44

First Recorded Murder Trial 45

Sanitary (Health) Code 46

Legal Aid Society 47

Night Court 48

Zoning Regulations 49

Twice Impeached President 50

Inventions 52

First Black Person to Receive a U.S. Patent 53

Baby Carriages 54

Pins and Needles 55

Elevators and Escalators 56

Toilet Paper 58

Cardboard 58

Municipal Incinerators 59

Air Conditioning 60

News Ticker 61

Firefighters' Tools 62

Long-Playing Record 63

Home Security System 64

LGBTQ 65

Bathhouse Raid 66

Gay Student Activities 67

Gay Bookstore 67

Birth of the Gay Rights Movement 68

Support Groups 69

Domestic Partner Benefits 70

Media 71

Newspaper by and for African Americans 72

Penny Press 73

Photojournalism 74

Newspaper Comic Strips 75

Weekly Alternative Newspaper 76

Public Radio Broadcast 77

Radio Commercial 78

Televised Sports 79

Television Commercials 80

Museums and Exhibitions 82

World's Fair 83

Cats and Cars 84

Children's Museum 85

Jewish Museum 86

Modern Art 87

Minimalism 88

TV, Radio, and Movies 88

Life's Pleasures 89

Posters 90

Music 92

Hondas Messiah 93

Master Juba 94

Musical Comedy 95

Classical Music 96

Jazz 97

Stadium Concert 98

Rock Musical 99

Hip Hop 100

Punk Rock 101

Parades 102

St. Patrick's Day 103

Labor Day 104

Ticker-Tape Parade 105

Gay Pride 106

National Cultural Heritage 107

Parks and Playgrounds 109

Central Park 110

Starlings 111

Playgrounds 112

Pocket Parks 113

High Line 113

Religion 115

Methodist Church 116

Episcopal Seminary 117

First American Cardinal 118

First American Saint 119

Christmas 120

First Jews 122

Reconstructionist Judaism 123

Chabad (Lubavitch) Judaism 124

Islam 125

Hinduism 126

Residences and Residential Areas 128

America's First Suburb 129

Tenement 130

Tenth Street Studio Building 132

Apartment Buildings 133

Co-op Apartments 135

Hotels 136

Carnegie Mansion 137

Garden Cities 138

Federally Funded Housing Projects 139

Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) 141

Passive House 142

Social Welfare 144

Bellevue Hospital 145

Sailors' Snug Harbor 146

Public Baths 147

Before Ellis Island 148

The "Y" for Women 149

Breadline 150

Settlement House 151

School Nurse 152

Birth Control Clinic 153

Giving Tuesday 154

Sports 155

Cricket 156

Transatlantic Yacht Race 157

Tennis 158

Indoor Ice Rink 159

Golf 159

Invention of Baseball 160

Baseball Uniforms 161

Home Run Kings 162

Jackie Robinson 164

Baseball Hall of Famers 164

World Series MVPs 165

Indoor Football 166

Overtime in Football 167

Basketball 167

Toys, Games, and Other Diversions 169

Board Game 170

Bowling 171

Roller Coaster 171

Teddy Bear 172

Gin Rummy 173

Dolls 174

Mr. Potato Head 175

Crossword Puzzle 176

Scrabble 177

Double Dutch 178

Flash Mob 179

Transportation 180

Steamboats 181

Packet Ships 182

Streetcars 183

Scenic Rides 184

Automobile Accidents 185

Taxicab 186

Underwater Tunnel for Cars 187

Early Aviation Milestones 188

Automated Train 189

Aerial Commuter Tram 189

Women Who Led the Way 191

Military Service 192

Doctor 193

Retail Executives 193

Brokerage Firms 195

Athletes 196

Presidential Politics 197

Judges 197

Walking Tours 199

Walking Tour 1 Financial District 200

Walking Tour 2 Greenwich Village 206

Walking Tour 3 Madison Square to Herald Square 212

Walking Tour 4 Midtown 218

Appendix: Beyond Manhattan 224

Appendix: New York City Firsts by Year 230

Photo Credits 241

Index 243

About the Author 257