Join me this week for a water-themed program: “Maritime New York”, when we explore the City’s relationship with our waterways, past and present.

We will have two Rediscovering New York regulars as my guests: Justin Rivers, Chief Experience Officer and Lead Tour Guide for Untapped New York; and David Griffin, Founder and CEO of Landmark Branding. David is also the program’s Special Consultant!

Segment 1

Jeff begins the show by introducing his guests Justin Rivers and David Griffin. Both guests share their backgrounds with the audience. David talks about how he got into his current business. He says he and his family were always interested in architecture. Justin mentions how he got into the business of touring New York. Justin began as a teacher. Justin then begins to  talk of Henry Hudson and how he found New York; Henry was actually looking for water. David talks about the Dutch and their first settlement. The gentlemen chat about the history of the Dutch and why they decided to have their settlement at the Harbor. Fun Fact: Before the European change, the island of Manhattan was much bigger. The conversation continues with Jeff explaining how the water was used by the British. Justin ends the segment by explaining how we defend the water around New York.

Segment 2

This segment begins with Justin talking about upcoming touring opportunities from the old Penn Station to locations all over Manhattan. David talks about the missions of ‘Landmark Branding’ and a few articles discussing the architectural history of New York. Justin continues his historical overview of New York’s trading culture via the harbor going into Dutch trading practices, as well as discussing the gradual change in boating technology, including the anxieties around the introduction of the steamboat. He gives a few anecdotes: how mailing ships turned into the start of the first luxury boats riding in and out of New York and the expected arrival of the Titanic. David then goes into the history of the creations of docks that lined the city and the creation of the manufactured shoreline. The segments ends with the two discussing how piers and docks became obsolete with the introduction of container ships.

Segment 3

The conversation continues with the guys talking about the waterways in New York and passenger ferries. David gives a brief history of the passenger ferries in New York and New Jersey.  The most famous ferry, the Staten Island Ferry began in 1712. David shares how the ferries changed the development of New York; especially the Financial District. Justin begins to share the history of Day Steamers. Jeff shares a sad maritime memory; there was a fire on a boat, and almost 1,300 people passed away in 1904. The conversation goes back to the Staten Island Ferry; which runs 5.2 miles. The Staten Island Ferry is actually FREE! Jeff ends the segment by briefly mentioning how busy the Staten Island  Ferry is.

Segment 4

The final segment begins with David outlining nautical themes in New York architecture, noting how it can be seen in all of buildings around the city today, the city never losing its touch with its maritime roots, he talks about a few specific examples of these buildings standing today. He goes into the varied locations of Nautical-themed architecture in the city as well, as it travels all over Manhattan through its history. Justin adds the history of the International Mercantile Marine Company Building, another staple of the city’s maritime history. The show closes with a brief discussion of the long and rich history of pirates in New York, the city at one time being especially known as a ‘haven’ of piracy.