The New York Historical

10/14/2026

Save the Date! Stop by the Designing Women Market on Saturday, November 14 from 11 am-5 pm to meet women makers and shop for exceptional products.

Learn more and let us know you're coming at https://bit.ly/4xCL79H

The New York Historical NYHistory Store will celebrate its Fall 2026 Shopping Event

10/13/2026

Vampires + queerness 🧛

The "Gothic Pasts" section of our exhibition "Irish Literature: History & Myth Since 1798" explores vampires and other monsters of the literary tradition. On through January 17!

10/12/2026

When Indigenous art becomes activism ✊

Zitkala-Ša was born in 1876 on the Yankton Indian Reservation and was raised a member of the Yankton Dakota Sioux Tribe.

As she grew older, Zitkala-Ša wrote about her personal experiences and the customs she had learned from her mother. In 1901, she published a compilation of her work in a book called "Old Indian Legends."

With William Hanson, a music professor, Zitkála-Šá wrote an opera based on her essays called "The Sun Dance," which premiered in 1913. It was the first published opera written by a Native American.

After her death, Zitkala-Ša's story was lost. Hanson claimed that he had been the sole writer of "The Sun Dance," and many of her other works went out of publication.

It was the activists and historians of the Red Power movement in the 1960s and 1970s who unearthed her work and made sure it was shared with future generations.

Learn more about Zitkala-Ša through Women & the American Story: https://bit.ly/3VwRgXL

Gertrude Kasebier, Zitkala Sa, Sioux Indian and activist, c. 1898. Gertrude Kasebier, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

10/11/2026

Saturday Night Live first aired on this day in 1975 🎤

A few years later, Kenneth Siegel photographed a group cast outing, as Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris and Billy Murray grabbed a bite on the streets of NYC.

This photograph, as well as other photos and objects related to iconic moments in NYC culture, are on view now in "You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond."

More info at https://bit.ly/4ygsf0l

📷 Saturday Night Live Cast in Times Square, ca. 1977-80.

10/08/2026

In the 1970s, music saved New York City.

"You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond" is on view through April 4 at The New York Historical 🪩

10/08/2026

30 years ago today, "Arthur" premiered on PBS Kids.

After airing for the first time on October 7, 1996, "Arthur" would continue to educate kids about the importance of caring for others, believing in themselves, and learning to be the best they could be. Plus, it would create some some pretty spectacular memes ♥️

Happy birthday, Arthur!

10/03/2026

Last chance! This is the final weekend to see "Betye Saar's Black Dolls," on view through October 4.

The exhibition celebrates a landmark promised gift to The New York Historical of Saar's collection of over 100 Black dolls.

Rag dolls handmade by Black women for both the Black and white children in their care join mass-produced toys and tourist souvenirs—as well as a doll created by Saar, and her doll watercolors.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4xRPkpW

10/02/2026

Now open! "You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond" maps out the NYC music scene throughout the decade, and looks at how the emergence of punk, disco, and hip hop forever changed music 🎵

📷 Atlantic Records (founded 1947), Live at CGBG's, 1976. Private Collection

10/01/2026

Opening tomorrow at 11 am in our galleries, "You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond" explores how disco, punk, and hiphop exploded in New York City, even as the city was struggling with impending bankruptcy.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/4ywLrrY