See endearing photos and paintings of New Yorkers and their beloved pets, documents, memorabilia, and clips from film and television that show the evolution of pets in the city from the times of the Lenape people to today
Discover how major events like 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic affected pet ownership in NYC
Dive into important topics such as pet adoption, the trafficking of exotic animals, and service animals
About this Event:
Pets and the Cityexplores the visual history of New Yorkers and their animal companions over the last two and a half centuries, tracing the ever-evolving relationship between Gotham’s people and its animals as the city grew increasingly urbanized and industrialized. Untapped New York members are invited to join an NYHS educator for an exclusive guided tour of the new exhibit!
Through a broad spectrum of works of art, objects, documents, memorabilia, and clips from film and television, the exhibition surveys the evolution of pets—from their presence among the Lenape and Haudenosaunee and the hunting culture of settlers through their insinuation into the urban family and onto the pampered pets of today, which enjoy their own public rights.
Drawn largely from New-York Historical’s Museum and Library collections, Pets and the City also investigates the reasons for the soaring pet population, especially after 9/11 and during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as issues surrounding pet adoption, the trafficking of exotic animals, and service animals. Curated by Roberta J.M. Olson, curator of drawings emerita
Photo Credits:
Header Image: Gordon Parks (1912-2006), New York, New York. A Woman and Her Gog in the Harlem Section, 1943. Print from digitized image. Library of Congress, Washington, DC
John Durand (active 1766-1783), James Beekman, Jr. (1758-1837), 1767. Oil on canvas. New-York Historical Society, Gift of the Beekman Family Association, 1962.71
William Davis Hassler (1877-1921), Father Teizen and His Dog Brownie, ca. 1911-21. Print from digitized negative. Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, New-York Historical Society
Meyer, Merkel & Ottoman Lithography (1869-1901), Trade Card: manhattan Bird Store, New York City. Chromolithograph. Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, New-York Historical Society, Bella C. Landauer Collection
Illustration by Julia Rothman
William Davis Hassler (1877-1921), William Gray Hassler seated at a small table eating Quaker Puffed Rice Cereal, with Reddy the Cat, ca. 1912. Print from digitized negative. Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, New-York Historical Society
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If you are an Insider level member ($20/month), you can reserve 1 ticket to this event. Explorer level members ($30/month) or Superfan ($100/month) can reserve 2 tickets. If you are a Support or Enthusiast level member but would like to attend, it’s easy to upgrade your account here!
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The event is sold out?
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What if I need to cancel?
If you cancel more than 48 hours ahead of the scheduled event, you will receive a 100%. When canceled less than 48 hours before the start of your tour, you will receive a gift card that can be used on any future events. Please be courteous to your fellow Insiders and let us know if you can no longer attend so we can offer your spot to another person.
