Did You Know? NYC history isn’t just dates and dusty books—it’s horse manure, Lady Liberty clones, and George Washington’s hair (yes, really).
Here are some wild and wonderful facts straight from the archives of the New-York Historical Society, the city's oldest museum:
The Horse Manure Crisis
Before cars, New York City had over 62,000 horses producing 500 tons of manure every day. The waste was sent to Barren Island to be turned into fertilizer—a process that didn’t win any popularity contests with nearby residents.
Statues of Liberty... Plural?
Besides the iconic statue in New York Harbor, a 30-foot replica lives at the Brooklyn Museum. It originally topped the Liberty Warehouse in Manhattan, commissioned in 1900. And fun fact: Paris has two of its own replicas.
How the Yankees Got Their Name
Before they were the Yankees, the team was known as the Highlanders and Hilltoppers, thanks to their hilltop playing field. The name "Yankees" likely came from a Civil War-era term referencing their northern location, setting them apart from the New York Giants.
Where Borough Names Come From
· Manhattan: Derived from the Lenape word "Mannahata"
· The Bronx: Named after early settler Jonas Bronck
· Brooklyn: Taken from the Dutch village of Breukelen
· Staten Island: Named by the Dutch after their governing body (Staten-Generaal)
· Queens: Named for Queen Catherine of Braganza
The Oldest Building in NYC
The Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum in Clarendon Rd., Brooklyn, built around 1652, is the city’s oldest surviving structure—and the first ever protected by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Why It's Called the Empire State
The nickname “Empire State” can be traced back to a 1785 letter from George Washington, where he described New York as “the Seat of the Empire.” The name stuck and helped shape the state’s powerful identity—including inspiring the name of its most famous skyscraper.
If you love digging into hidden stories behind everyday places, stay tuned. Julian’s Trivia Friday returns next week with more unexpected NYC facts.
Want more New York history in your feed? Drop a comment and let me know what I should explore next.
