The Lower Manhattan Historical Association, in conjunction with the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York and its Fraunces Tavern Museum, the Sephardi Federation, the Temple of Universal Judaism, the Bowling Green Association, The Museum of Jewish Heritage -  A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, the Chinatown Partnership, the Chinatown Business Improvement District, The American Historical Association in the State of New York, The New York Board of Rabbis, cultureNOW, and the Jewish Learning Experience is commemorating the founding of New York City’s (and North America’s) first temple.

On the seventh day of Passover April 8, 1730 the nascent Jewish community of New York City consecrated the Mill Street Synagogue at what today is 26 South William Street. Congregation Shearith Israel which was has long since moved to the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The history of the Jewish communities in New York and its first native born Jewish leader, the most dedicated and influential Hazzan, Gershom Mendes Seixas, is well documented. In addition to his contributions to the Revolutionary War effort, he was also a trustee of Kings College and participated in George Washington’s Inauguration. The street was co-named Seixas Way on April 8,2019. In August 2019 a plaque was installed at 22 South William Street to commemorate the Mill Street Synagogue. It is, therefore, our intention to raise the community’s awareness regarding the important contribution of Seixas and his congregation to the rise of New York as that most cosmopolitan of American cities. The Gershom Mendes Seixas Religious Freedom Award will be bestowed.

Revolutionary War Generals (Gates, Hamilton and Willett) walking tour

Commemorating the American victories of Saratoga on October 17, 1777 and Yorktown on October 19, 1781, visit sites in Lower Manhattan affiliated with Marinus Willett, Alexander Hamilton and Horatio Gates, the key generals in these important battles. This unique tour will visit little-known places in plain sight of which many New Yorkers are unaware relating to New York City's Revolutionary War history.

The Alexander Hamilton Immigrant Achievement Awards are awarded to foreign-born naturalized citizens of the United States of America who have made outstanding contributions to Lower Manhattan and New York State.

Honorees

Distinguished Professor Malcolm Bowman, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, SUNY at Stony Brook, New Zealand

Judge Denny Chin, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Hong Kong

Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, New York City Department of Transportation, Dominican Republic

Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Chef & Restaurateur, France

Yvonne Szeto, Design Partner, Pei Cobb Freed Architects, Hong Kong

For more information on the past honorees

RSVP

abby@historiclowermanhattan.org by September 27

The Lower Manhattan Historical Association, in conjunction with the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York and its Fraunces Tavern Museum, the Sephardi Federation, the Temple of Universal Judaism, the Bowling Green Association, The Museum of Jewish Heritage -  A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, the Chinatown Partnership, the Chinatown Business Improvement District, The American Historical Association in the State of New York, The New York Board of Rabbis, cultureNOW, and the Jewish Learning Experience is commemorating the founding of New York City’s (and North America’s) first temple.

On the seventh day of Passover April 8, 1730 the nascent Jewish community of New York City consecrated the Mill Street Synagogue at what today is 26 South William Street. Congregation Shearith Israel which was has long since moved to the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The history of the Jewish communities in New York and its first native born Jewish leader, the most dedicated and influential Hazzan, Gershom Mendes Seixas, is well documented. In addition to his contributions to the Revolutionary War effort, he was also a trustee of Kings College and participated in George Washington’s Inauguration. The street was co-named Seixas Way on April 8,2019. In August 2019 a plaque was installed at 22 South William Street to commemorate the Mill Street Synagogue. It is, therefore, our intention to raise the community’s awareness regarding the important contribution of Seixas and his congregation to the rise of New York as that most cosmopolitan of American cities. The Gershom Mendes Seixas Religious Freedom Award will be bestowed.

The Alexander Hamilton Immigrant Achievement Awards are awarded to foreign-born naturalized citizens of the United States of America who have made outstanding contributions to Lower Manhattan and New York State.

Honorees

Commissioner Manuel Castro, Mayor’s O ce of Immigrant Affairs, Mexico

Wellington Z. Chen, Executive Director, Chinatown BID/Partnership, Formosa, Hong Kong

Michael Arad, Architect, Israel

For more information on the past honorees

RSVP

abby@historiclowermanhattan.org by October 7

Entrance thru Trinity Churchyard

Wall Street & Broadway

Walk by Alexander Hamilton’s Gravesite

over the bridge to Trinity Commons Parish Hall

This unique walking tour delves into the political, financial, real estate and architectural history of Wall Street and New York City. It begins with Henry Hudson, the corporate entrepreneur who found New York Harbor in 1609, and then was murdered by his crew on a later voyage to Hudsons Bay the following year. It also discusses Alexander Hamilton, the founding of the Bank of New York, and how Hamilton has been confused as the founder of Chase Manhattan. Chase Manhattan was founded instead by his arch-rival Aaron Burr. The tour shows adversities such as the Great Fires of 1776 and 1835, financial panics of the 19th century, the 1920 Wall Street explosion, the Crash of 1929, the stock market collapse of 1987, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, and the financial crisis of 2008 in the worlds financial capital.

Virtual Self Guided Tour Link : https://www.mas.org/events/great-crashes-of-wall-street/

The Commons has effectively been America’s town square since the Dutch landed. Virtually every major event of local, national and global significance has played out in some way on this stage. This tour captures the multiple and overlapping stories that are woven throughout our city’s life. It takes a look at the issues that New Yorkers were preoccupied with and how they solved them: their politics, religion, social protest, health and safety, commerce, disasters and defense, scandals and crime, education, publications, art and culture, parades and celebrations, architecture and engineering.

Guided Tour Link : https://www.mas.org/events/the-commons-the-heart-of-new-york-city-2/

Virtual Self Guided Tour Link : https://www.mas.org/events/the-commons-the-heart-of-new-york-city-3/

Each October the Lower Manhattan Historical Association celebrates two of the Continental Army’s most decisive Revolutionary War victories, the battles of Saratoga and Yorktown. While other Continental Army victories, such as the siege of Boston, were essential to the final defeat of British forces and the recognition of United States of America as an independent, sovereign nation by the British Crown, Saratoga and Yorktown are indisputably considered to be the definitive turning points of the American Revolution in that both resulted in the surrender of significant British forces along with their commanding officers (on October 17, 1777 and October 19, 1781, respectively). For the devotees of Lower Manhattan history, these two battles hold special significance. Both General Horatio Gates, the commanding general at the Battle of Saratoga, and Alexander Hamilton, a key aide to General George Washington and the leader the climactic charge against redoubt 10 at the Battle of Yorktown, are buried in Trinity Churchyard.