Hidden stories of Manhattan: lesser-known historical tours worth taking

Manhattan, New York, is the perfect place for romance and glamour. A lesser-known side to it is its historical stories. There are many hidden stories of this amazing city that you have not heard of before. It makes the city even more worth exploring. The mystery and imagination these stories delve you into are beyond what words can explain. Here are hidden stories of Manhattan: lesser-known historical tours worth taking. Dive into these stories to feel how real they are.

Hidden stories of Manhattan: lesser-known historical tours worth taking

Old City Hall Station: Hidden stories of Manhattan

The Old City Hall Station is the first subway in New York. Today, it stands as a beautiful station decked out in chandeliers and abandoned. The very first New York City subway ride departed from the City Hall Station in Lower Manhattan on 27^th October, 1904. Back then, the station was lavishly decorated and an architectural marvel in NYC. The station has Guastavino vaulted ceilings, colored glass tiling, skylights, and large brass chandeliers. Although it was a beautiful station, it was less convenient than the other stops. Therefore, the station closed for good on New Year’s Eve of 1945. However, the building remains up to date, telling a story that many who visit the place don’t know.

The ‘Ghostbusters’ Firehouse: Hidden stories of Manhattan

New York, especially Manhattan, is a popular location for many movies. One such location is the ‘firehouse’ from the movie Ghostbusters. Visitors can see the location, including props that were part of their favourite movie. The Beaux-Arts building was used for the exterior scenes of the fictional firehouse. It was where Peter, Egon, Winston, and Ray set up their ghostbusting operations. This building is home to the actual Hook & Ladder Company 8. Visitors can take a look at the phones and clocks they’ve collected from the many fires they’ve put out.

Park Slope Plane Crash: Hidden Stories of Manhattan

The Park Slope Plane Crash is one of the deadliest air disasters in American aviation that the nation will never forget. A total of 128 passengers and six people on the ground died as a result of this crash. On December 16, 1960, two flights collided in mid-air. It was United Airlines Flight 826 coming from Chicago and TWA Flight 266 coming from Ohio. The United Airlines Flight 826 crashed into the brownstones of Park Slope. To this day, there are small memoirs reminding the crash that occurred at the Park Slope intersection.

Pier 54: The Titanic’s Arrival Destination: Hidden Stories of Manhattan

A dilapidated dock at Pier 54 says another one of the hidden stories of Manhattan. Owned by the White Star Line, the Titanic’s final destination was to be Pier 59. However, the ship’s survivors arrived in NYC on the Carpathia, which is a Cunard Line ship. The Carpathia took a brief stop at Pier 59 to drop off the lifeboats from the Titanic. Thereafter, it travelled southwards to dock at the Cunard pier, Pier 54. Anxious people were waiting there to hear about the fate of their loved ones.

Preserved Remnants of 17^th Century New York

Remains of Manhattan’s oldest buildings lie under a glass sidewalk. A look at the Google Map of “Lower Manhattan” would show you something unusual at Pearl and Broad Streets. Its name is “Portal Down to Old New York”. A large number of workers in the Financial District pass by here. What they don’t know is what lies beneath them and is well-preserved in glass. A 1975 excavation made people uncover some of the only remaining physical relics that the Old Dutch people left behind in Manhattan.

The Hidden Holocaust Memorial of Madison Park

A courthouse in Manhattan hides a small memorial to Holocaust injustice. It hides away on the Northwest corner of the courthouse. People passing by here hardly notice the miniature memorial to the Holocaust that is built here. In 1990, its façade received the addition of a column, this one covered in swirling flames. You can see the camp and the commandant’s house here. Also, you can see details of the gas chamber, torture chamber, execution wall, and crematorium.

The New York Public Library’s Pneumatic System

The New York Public Library is one of the last few places that employed a pneumatic system. The pneumatic tube system played a crucial role in the lives of people in New York. These tubes run all over NYC. They contain letters, packages, and sometimes even live cats that shoot through tubes by air pressure, at a rate of 35 mph. The system connected a total of 22 mail offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn’s General Post Office. However, the tubes were expensive to maintain. Therefore, a new technological invention replaced it, which was the motor wagon.

 The Daily News Building Globe

The Daily News Building Globe is NYC’s most historic, artistically decorative structure. Celebrated architects of the 20^th century, Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells, designed this structure. The building was home to the Daily News, which was America’s first tabloid newspaper. Inside this historic building is an architectural marvel: a vintage globe that looms over onlookers. The Daily News moved on, but the globe has turned on its axis continuously since 1930.

Wall Street Bombing Scars

No. 23 Wall Street’s wall is scarred with craters due to a 1920 anarchist bomb attack. The scars range in size, from small limestone-sized chunks to large baseball-sized pits. This was the deadliest terrorist attack in New York City until the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. The corner of Wall Street, where the bomb was detonated, was the headquarters of J.P. Morgan. Many suspect that the bomb was targeted at him. The building stands with these scars even up to today, reminding everyone of the explosion. You can visit the place to take a look at what is left of the bombings.

The Wishbones of McSorley’s Old Ale House

As one of NYC’s oldest bars, this has mementoes from soldiers who didn’t make it back from World War I. Back in the day, many prominent figures like Abraham Lincoln came here to quench their thirsts. Hanging over the electric lamps in the bar is a touching memorial to those who went to World War I. McSorley gave all soldiers who were going to the war a turkey and ale dinner. The soldiers placed the turkey wishbones on the lamp rail that hangs over the bar. They wished for good fortune and their safe return home. Once they come back, they would take their wishbones and celebrate the night. Around two dozen wishbones of those who didn’t return were never collected. It is an interesting place to visit for those who are keen on learning more about hidden and unknown stories.

Conclusion

New York has a lot of stories and historic incidents that people have yet to know. These are just a few of the hidden stories of Manhattan, NYC. There is so much to get to know about this amazing city that it is definitely worth a historical tour of its own. You can do your own research and find out if there are more hidden stories of Manhattan and make sure you visit these sites on your next NYC tour.