One West 142nd Street

On a cold February afternoon in 1919, thousands of people gathered along New York's Fifth Avenue and swayed to music provided by military band leader James Reese.

Kenneth Jackson, Jacques Barzun Professor in History and the Social Sciences, Columbia University, discusses the 369th Street Armory.

143 Nassau Street

Harriet Tubman, or “Moses” as some called her, was worth $40,000 to anyone who could capture her and return her south.

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Commencement Speech for Hofstra University. On June 13th 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr. was Hofstra University’s honoree and guest speaker. King focused on the need for active participation to end racial inequality, poverty and war.

Hofstra University, Hempstead, Long Island

Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke to several Long Island audiences in 1965, but on June 13th his commencement speech at Hofstra University stirred up a wide variety of community sentiments.

Liberty and Trinity

In the spring of 1741, all eyes were on a tavern at the corner of Liberty and Trinity Streets.

Kenneth Jackson, Jacques Barzun Professor in History and the Social Sciences, Columbia University, discusses Hughson's Tavern.

93 West Broadway

In 1824, the aged Revolutionary War hero General Lafayette returned to America for a tour of the nation he had helped to forge.

John Street Church

At the opening of the John Street Methodist Church, the priest addressed "those in the gallery," welcoming the African Americans. The segregated black worshipers could cook the food, clean the homes, and care for the children of the white worshipers, but they could not pray together with them.

Kenneth Jackson, Jacques Barzun Professor in History and the Social Sciences, Columbia University, discusses the John Street Church.