In 1626, Peter Minuit—a native of the German town of Wesel am Rhein—purchased Manhattan Island for 60 guilders worth of trade goods. Since that purchase, German immigrants have been integral to the development of the city of New York. Over … Continue reading →

The Immanuel Lutheran Church on East 88th St. in central Yorkville is a towering monument to the congregation’s German heritage. The congregation of the Immanuel Lutheran Church formed in 1863, but two years later a rift in the congregation caused … Continue reading →

On October 16, 1852, the Gesellschaft Harmonie was established, a social club constructed with the purpose of providing “mutually beneficial entertainment” for recent German immigrants. While the phrase “mutually beneficial entertainment” many sound a bit sleazy to contemporary ears, in … Continue reading →

Built in 1906 by real estate developers and brothers, William and Thomas Hall, this handsome Beaux-Arts town house was sold in 1909 to James F. A. Clark, partner of Clark, Ward & Co., bankers and stockbrokers. In 1926 it was … Continue reading →

In 1844, the Archbishop of New York asked the Redemptorists—a Catholic missionary congregation—to take charge of the burgeoning population of German Catholics in Kleindeutschland. At first, they ministered from St. Nicholas’ on 2nd Street, but the number of German Catholics … Continue reading →

On a corner of the Puck Building sits a plump gilded statute of the structure’s namesake. Puck, from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is the mascot of one of New York’s best-known humor magazines in its day, Puck Magazine. The … Continue reading →

How did this turn of the century German-style saloon manage to survive Prohibition and stay business for nearly 130 years? By operating as a speakeasy under the name Craig’s Restaurant and installing secret hiding places for liquor. Originally founded under … Continue reading →

It all began in 1848 when German immigrant William Tollner opened up a modest hardware store at 221 Bowery. Tollner’s store became known for its high quality products, retailing some of the best mortise gauges, saw bummers, and plumb bobs … Continue reading →

At the age of 16, William F. Mangels immigrated to America from Germany, and like many German craftsmen at the time he was immediately drawn to the atmosphere of Coney Island. Already a bourgeoning area for those looking for leisure, … Continue reading →

The Steinway name can be found throughout Manhattan and the city’s outer boroughs, including an important subway tunnel linking Queens and Manhattan. In 1885 a group of investors began planning a new tunnel railroad from north of Long Island City … Continue reading →