Extreme Makeover: Transforming New York City’s Common

Summary

New York’s City Hall Park has exhibited three distinct identities since the founding of New Amsterdam. Originally utilized to extend the Dutch tradition of Common lands in the new world it’s remote location made it an ideal setting to house unwanted populations in the eighteenth century. Following the Revolutionary War and the ensuing expansion of the city this parcel of land was transformed into the municipal crown of New York City. Archaeology has documented the transformation of these institutional grounds into a gentrified public park and icon of the City.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014   •
• New York’s City Hall Park: A Physical Space for New York City’s Public

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-77,05