Product Description

New York is the oldest continually occupied city in America, yet its rich history is largely obscured by development. New Yorkers are surrounded by hundreds of place names, from those that survive from Manhattan's earliest days as a Dutch trading post to those that reflect the city's rich colonial, African and immigrant heritage. They provide a veritable encyclopedia of the city's history. Buildings may come and go, but place names are surprisingly durable.

Naming New York is a comprehensive compilation and explanation of the names of Manhattan's streets, alleys, avenues, plazas, parks and corners. It surveys names currently in use and includes the oldest and the newest honorific "add-on" names, from Astor Place to Yitzak Rabin Way.

Whether you're a history or trivia buff, tourist, or just fascinated by place names, learning about the origins of these mostly unexamined sources enriches one's experience of the city, and transforms a simple neighborhood errand into a trip through time.

For example:

Bowery: In the 17th century, Dutch farms known as "bowerij" were laid out in this section of Manhattan along the path of an old Indian trail. Known since that time as the Bowery, the thoroughfare became the first section of the Post Road from New York City to Boston.

Houston Street: For William Houstoun, 1757-1812, of a prominent Georgia family, who married a daughter of Manhattan landowner Nicholas Bayard III. The Georgia provenance of the name accounts for its pronunciation and spelling both of which distinguish it from the Texas city.

Wall Street: Follows the line of the city wall that the Dutch erected in 1653 across the northern perimeter of New Amsterdam to protect against attack from the British in New England.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #418124 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-01
• Released on: 2001-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 207 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Who knew that Broadway was originally an Indian trail that ran north from the southern tip of Manhattan? In Naming New York: Manhattan Places & How They Got Their Names, Sanna Feirstein, a docent at the New-York Historical Society, draws on an impressive array of sources to produce a lively, informative reference to the people and histories behind Manhattan's varied streets. Though indexed and organized by neighborhood, the book lacks detailed maps. Illus.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Ever wondered why Wall Street is called that? Because it follows the line of the palisade wall that the Dutch erected across the northern perimeter of New Amsterdam in 1653 to protect against attack from the British. It is exactly this kind of place name information about Manhattan's streets, avenues, plazas, parks, and corners that this thorough compilation provides. Whether discussing the names derived from the original Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam or the places named after modern notables, Feirstein, a docent at the New York Historical Society, maintains a friendly tone that does not diminish this tome's educational value. Peppered with various historical illustrations, this is a fun read for any New Yorker or for those planning to visit the city, but it may be a bit over the head of those familiar with only the most notable landmarks of the city. Recommended for public libraries with a strong clientele interested in the history of the Big Apple.ASandy Knowles, Henderson Cty. P.L., NC
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
" . . . A fun read for any New Yorker or for those planning to visit the city. . ." -- LIBRARY JOURNAL

"Even natives . . . are unlikely to know many of the facts that Feirstein has uncovered in this little gem." -- PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY

Customer Reviews

Cool Book for New York-Philes
Ever wondered how Hell's Kitchen got it's name or why Bowling Green is called that? Well, finally there is a book that can answer these and many other place name questions. "Naming New York: Manhattan Places and How They Got Their Names" by Sanna Feirstein, and published by the respectable folks at New York University Press is a great, well organized book that discusses how most places in the borough of Manhattan got their names.

Chapters, which are divided by areas on the island such as Upper East Side, Inwood, and Harlem, discusses the origin of many street, park, and neighborhood names. The author, who briefly gives the origin of the place name in a simple sentence or two, apparently has done some deep research at a local library or archive in order to amass such an extensive list of information. With a great cover design and feel, the book captured my attention at a local bookstore. Overall, the book is a must for anyone who loves the City that Never Sleeps. It's a great book for a great price, which today can be a rarity.

Every Street Name Origin in Manhattan!
This book explains the origin of every named street in Manhattan, New York. A native of Topeka, Kansas may rightly be inclined to say "So what?" but, to anyone interested in NYC, this book will provide plenty of raised eyebrows of new found insight about "Gotham". The book is broken down into sections on Lower Manhattan, Mid-Lower Manhattan, The Villages, Midtown South, Midtown, East Side, West Side, and Upper Manhattan with additional sectional breakdowns in each group. A page and a half of historical background for each area is given along with a very basic map of the area. The story of the name for each street in the area is then explained in a couple well written lines. Many pictures are included of the persons or places named. The only detracting points are the paucity of effective maps detailing where some of the more obscure places are.

Highly recommended if you are into New York City history.

A Must for NYC History Buffs and Others !
Sanna Feirstein has written a lively and well-researched book on the origins of Manhattan street and place names -- a book that every NYC history buff, trivia hound and tourist will find fascinating.