nyhs-front-nyc-untapped citiesImage from New-York Historical Society

The New-York Historical Society Museum & Library has been a part of New York City for 212 years, collecting and preserving the history of the city and nation. It holds an incredible amount of documents and art that make the building a treasure trove of information. Holding so much history lends itself to having some secrets of its own. Why is New-York hyphenated? How old is really? What does Santa Claus have to do with it? Those and more are answered with our top 10 secrets of the Historical Society.

10. New York City’s First Museum

Founded in 1804, the New-York Historical Society is the oldest museum in New York City, predating the founding of the Metropolitan Museum of Art by nearly 70 years. Today, the building houses more than 1.6 million works of art and documents. The museum’s mission is to explore the political, cultural, and social history of New York City, the state, and even the nation. With small exhibits, a comprehensive online database, and ground-breaking exhibits like Slavery In New York that promote “the discussion of issues surrounding the making and meaning of history.”

Exhibitions and education programs are supported by one of the country’s greatest collections of historical artifacts, a full range of American art, and many historical documents.