List of New York City historical anniversaries explained

A number of New York City historical anniversaries have been commemorated as civic events by centennials and at similar landmark dates. Several of these could be considered founding myths of the city, though there have been disagreements on when it was actually "founded".^[1] For example, the Seal of New York City has been variously marked by the years 1686, 1664 and 1625 over its history,^[2] by steps attributing an earlier founding date. Sometimes these anniversaries have occasioned major celebrations, and sometimes not.^[3]

Years commemorated

Before English conquest

• 1609, September 12: Henry Hudson and his Halve Maen arrive at Hudson River

• 300th anniversary: Hudson–Fulton Celebration

• 400th anniversary: NY400 and New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion
• 1614, October 11: New Netherland Company founded

• 300th anniversary: Commercial Tercentenary^[4]
• 1623, June 20: Dutch West India Company secures province status for New Netherland^[5]

• • 1624, May: Cornelius Jacobsen May and WIC ship New Netherland arrive at Hudson River with first settlers to Governors Island (and also Fort Orange), as planned by Jessé de Forest

• 300th anniversary: Huguenot-Walloon New Netherland Commission,^[6] including Walloon Settlers Memorial at the Battery and Huguenot-Walloon half dollar
• 1625: Fort Amsterdam built as new seat of government of New Netherland at site chosen and designed by Cryn Fredericks under Willem Verhulst, and cattle transferred from Governors Island

• Date marked on 1975 flag and 1977 seal

• 350th anniversary: update of city flag and city seal after Paul O'Dwyer campaign
• 1626, May 24: Peter Minuit and his "purchase" of Manhattan

• 300th anniversary: Netherland Monument at the Battery
• 1653, February 2: New Amsterdam municipal rights after lobbying by Adriaen van der Donck

• 300th anniversary: Peter Minuit Plaza and Shorakapok Rock

After English conquest

• 1664, September 6: Conquest of New Netherland and Articles of Surrender of New Netherland

• Date marked on 1915 flag and seal

• 300th anniversary: 1964 New York World's Fair
• 1665, June 24: Thomas Willett first mayor of City of New York

• 250th anniversary: establishment of city flag and update of city seal
• 1686, April 27: Dongan Charter

• Date marked on 1686 seal

• establishment of first locally-approved city seal
• 1783, November 25: Evacuation Day

• 100th anniversary: Evacuation Day Centennial and George Washington at Federal Hall
• 1789, April 30: First inauguration of George Washington

• 100th anniversary: Washington Square Arch

• 150th anniversary: 1939 New York World's Fair
• 1898, January 1: City of Greater New York

• 25th anniversary: Silver Jubilee,^[7] civic, industrial and fraternal parades, and Municipal Educational Exposition at Grand Central Palace

• 50th anniversary: Golden Jubilee,^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} "New York at Work" parade, Grand Central Palace exhibition, Idlewild Airport opening

• 75th anniversary: Diamond Jubilee,^{[12] [13]} subject of Intro 475 protest by Gay Activists Alliance^[14]

• 100th anniversary: Greater New York Centennial^{[15] [16] [17] [18]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Roberts . Sam . 2008-07-24 . Hot History Debate: 1624 or 1625? . 2022-04-12 . City Room . en-US.
2. News: Roberts . Sam . 2008-07-14 . New York's Birth Date: Don't Go by City's Seal . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-12 . 0362-4331.
3. News: Roberts . Sam . 2014-08-25 . 350 Years Ago, New Amsterdam Became New York. Don't Expect a Party. . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-07 . 0362-4331.
4. Book: New York (State) Commercial Tercentenary Commission . The commercial tercentenary of New York, 1614-1914 ... containing a brief history of the beginning of the regularly chartered commerce of New Netherland and the permanent settlement of what is now the state of New York. . Hall . Edward Hagaman . 1914 . The Commission . New York.
5. Book: O'Callaghan, Edmund Bailey . History of New Netherland: Or New York Under the Dutch . 1845 . D. Appleton . 978-0-87152-034-0 . 99 . en.
6. Book: Huguenot-Walloon New Netherland commission, New York . The Huguenot-Walloon New Netherland commission : for the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the settling in New Netherland of Walloons ... by the Dutch West India company, in 1624, now ... dedicates to its members and friends this simple memorial volume, prepared with a view solely toward putting into permanent form the record of the Tercentenary Celebrations and their historical and religious significance for our nation . 1924 . [New York?] : [publisher not identified] . Princeton Theological Seminary Library.
7. Web site: LIU WRH WRH - The Archive . 2022-04-06 . www.liucedarswampcollection.org.
8. Web site: 2008-11-07 . 11/17 Lecture – When the City Celebrated Itself: 1948 NYC Golden Jubilee HDC . 2022-04-03 . hdc.org . en-US.
9. News: 1947-05-06 . 1948 CITY JUBILEE GETS UNDER WAY; Fete to Mark Fiftieth Year of Greater New York Is Due to Start on Jan. 1 200 CITIZENS WILL SERVE Improvement of Surroundings of City Hall Proposed as Part of the Program . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-03 . 0362-4331.
10. News: 1948-01-02 . GREATER NEW YORK MARKS 50TH YEAR; Jubilee Celebration Is Held of Consolidation in 1898 of Five Boroughs IMPELLITTERI A SPEAKER Federal Hall Branch Station Issues Seventh in Series of 15 Postal Cachets . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-03 . 0362-4331.
11. Web site: Golden Jubilee: Golden Anniversary of Fashion, 1948 . Collection Guides, The New York City Municipal Archives.
12. News: Schumach . Murray . 1973-04-29 . City to Begin Celebrating Its 75th Jubilee Tomorrow . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-07 . 0362-4331.
13. News: Wren . Christopher S. . 1973-05-14 . 5 BOROUGHS OPEN THE CITY JUBILE . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-07 . 0362-4331.
14. Web site: Gay Activists Alliance Actions at City Hall – NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project . 2023-05-29 . www.nyclgbtsites.org.
15. News: McFadden . Robert D. . 1997-09-08 . A Taste of the City's Centennial . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-03 . 0362-4331.
16. News: Gonzalez . David . 1998-06-21 . For Centennial, a Party as Diverse as Its City . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-03 . 0362-4331.
17. Web site: Press Release Archives #249-97 100th Anniversary Consolidation of NYC . 2022-04-03 . www.nyc.gov.
18. Web site: Press Release Archives #270-98 - NYC 100 Centennial Weekend" Celebration . 2022-04-03 . www.nyc.gov.