Posts Tagged ‘New York Historical Society’
On November 11, the New York Historical Society reopened its Central Park West location following a three year, $70 million renovation project.
The society updated the exterior of the building, by creating a wider main staircase and an expanded main entrance. The 77th Street entrance was redesigned with a focus on improved accessibility for school groups and visitors with disabilities. The building’s architectural features are now illuminated at night. Ray H. Dovell, AIA, principal-in-charge of the project for Platt Byard Dovell White Architects said, “We believe the strength and beauty of the building’s exterior will stand out in a new light, while the flow of space inside will draw visitors directly into the compelling stories that New-York Historical has to tell.”
The project brings many changes inside NYHS, the new 3,400 square-foot Smith Gallery on the ground floor; a updated and improved Robert H. Smith Auditorium; provisions for a new Stephen Starr restaurant, Café Storico; renovations to the Museum Store and Rotunda; and established the DiMenna Children’s History Museum and the Barbara K. Lipman Children’s History Library.
Exhibition reviews are largely positive. Christopher Gray of the New York Times noted that the newly designed entrance “but inside is a smashing bells-and-whistles display of items from the society’s magnificent collections.” Michael J. Fressola, writing for SIlive.com praised the Children’s Museum’s in-floor artifact cases for giving visitors “an instantaneous, surprising lesson in how history is alive.”
More New York Times reports and reviews are available here.
The words “It is delightful to recall the past” appear on the New York Historical Society’s 1904 commemorative gold medal. As part of its strategic plan (pdf), NYHS rededicated itself to its community, proclaiming “we believe history has the power to change lives.” The plan led to a three-year, $65 million renovation project that limited access to the institution and its collections at the Central Park West location.
With new multi-media displays and interactives, the changes are promising delight, but so too do the less technologically dependent displays. History Manholes consists of twelve exhibit cases flush with the floor. Visitors receive an introduction to urban archeology and the notion that history is everywhere, even under our feet. For more information on the changes undertaken by the New York Historical Society, visit newyorkhistoryblog.com.
The New York Historical Society is reopening its doors at 11:00 am on November 11, 2011. It will remain open until 11:00pm. Veterans and active service members and children under age 13 are admitted for free. All visitors are admitted free of charge after 6pm.
(From New York History Blog and NYHS)
As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, numerous memorials, commemorations, and exhibits mark the event. A few notable stories: In Jersey City, the “Empty Sky” memorial will be dedicated on September 10th at 11:00 a.m. The Shanksville Memorial honoring United flight 93 will be dedicated at 12:30 p.m. The dedication will be webcasted at History.com. Avery Fisher Hall hosts a free remembrance concert by the New York Philharmonic at 7:30 p.m. The Pentagon is limiting public access to The Pentagon Memorial, which opened in 2008 on Sunday, instead holding a private remembrance for the families of those lost on 9/11. “Remembering 9/11″ a special exhibition of photographs, letters and objects is open at the New York Historical Society until November 10. The 9/11 Memorial in New York City will be dedicated in a ceremony for victim’s families, and opens to the general public on September 12. In Washington D.C., events scheduled to occur at the National Cathedral’s “A Call To Compassion,” including concerts, discussion groups, and interfaith prayer vigil have moved following an accident on-site. These events and the multitude of 9/11 stories on the internet, newspapers, and television beg questions of how we remember as individuals and as a community.
By OBREAKSL penny stocks