The Gotham Center for New York City History

The Gotham Center for New York City History The only academic institution devoted to advancing scholarly and public understanding of New York City

The Gotham Center is a university-based research and educational center, devoted to advancing scholarly and public understanding of New York City’s rich and living past. The organization was founded in 2000 by Mike Wallace, Distinguished Professor of History at John Jay College and The Graduate Center, CUNY, after his landmark work Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898, co-authored with Edwin

Burrows, won the Pulitzer. For nearly twenty years, it has been the one academic institution devoted exclusively to promoting this critical field of study. Our goal is to support independent and professional historical work examining the various forces and figures which have shaped life in the city, as well as New York’s contributions to the development of the nation and the world. Through a variety of public-facing initiatives, such as our free lecture series, digital resources, and K-12 programs, we strive to make that knowledge available to the widest possible audience — sharing the best and most interesting new scholarship with groups far beyond the academic community and immediate metropolitan area, while still bringing that work directly into local classrooms and learning spaces. Finally, we endeavor to make research on New York City history more useful to actors influencing culture and policy today, fostering greater awareness and exchange between academic experts and leaders in civil society and government. In all things, we ask New Yorkers to consider how the past has created the present, and what lessons it might offer for the challenges we face in our great city, now and in the future.

08/26/2026
The Gotham Center for NYC History is saddened to announce the death of our founder, Mike Wallace. Peter-Christian Aigner...
07/10/2026

The Gotham Center for NYC History is saddened to announce the death of our founder, Mike Wallace. Peter-Christian Aigner, director of the Gotham Center, writes the following in remembrance:

07/10/2026
Ever wonder what a day in the life of a patriot looked like? Peter Aigner walked the New York Post through a typical day...
07/03/2026

Ever wonder what a day in the life of a patriot looked like? Peter Aigner walked the New York Post through a typical day, read below!

New York has always been revolutionary.

06/29/2026

From Revolutionary New York to immigration and Indigenous identity, Graduate Center scholars illuminate the people and forces that have shaped America over 250 years.

Peter Aigner and Ted Knudsen recently sat down with Randy Cohen to discuss America 250 and New York’s role in the Americ...
06/23/2026

Peter Aigner and Ted Knudsen recently sat down with Randy Cohen to discuss America 250 and New York’s role in the American Revolution. Click below to listen or stream it wherever you get your podcasts!

Person Place Thing with Randy Cohen is an interview show based on this idea: people are particularly engaging when they speak not directly about themselves but about something they care about. Guests talk about one person, one place, and one thing that are important to them. The result? Surprising s...

06/17/2026
Echoes of Revolution in NTD news today! Watch below to learn more about the launch ⬇️
06/16/2026

Echoes of Revolution in NTD news today! Watch below to learn more about the launch ⬇️

The popular video game series Assassin's Creed teamed up with new York City historians for America's 250th anniversary.

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