1. Manhattan Was Bought for $24 (Maybe) – In 1626, the Dutch reportedly purchased Manhattan from the Lenape for goods worth about 60 guilders, often cited as $24 in modern terms. The actual deal’s value and nature remain debated, as the Lenape likely saw it as a land-sharing agreement.

2. Wall Street’s Literal Wall – In the 1650s, the Dutch built a wooden wall along what’s now Wall Street to protect against Native American and British threats. It was dismantled in 1699, but the name stuck.

3. The Great Fire of 1776 – A massive fire destroyed up to 25% of NYC during the Revolutionary War, leveling 400-500 buildings. The cause—British or Patriot arson—remains a mystery.

4. NYC Was the Nation’s Capital – From 1785 to 1790, NYC served as the nation’s capital under the Articles of Confederation and early Constitution. George Washington was inaugurated at Federal Hall in 1789.

5. The Draft Riots of 1863 – The Civil War draft sparked the deadliest riots in NYC history, with over 120 killed and 2,000 injured. Mobs targeted Black residents and abolitionists, burning buildings in a week of chaos.

6. Central Park’s a Man-Made Creation – Opened in 1860, Central Park was entirely engineered—every tree, hill, and lake was planned and built, transforming swampy land into an 843-acre masterpiece.

7. The Brooklyn Bridge’s Deadly Construction – Completed in 1883, the bridge took 14 years to build, killing at least 27 workers. Its caissons caused decompression sickness, and elephants were paraded across it to prove its stability

8. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire – In 1911, a factory fire in Greenwich Village killed 146 workers, mostly young women, due to locked exits and poor safety. It spurred major labor and safety reforms nationwide.

9. Prohibition’s Secret Bars – During the 1920s, NYC had an estimated 20,000-100,000 speakeasies, more than any other city, with secret tunnels and hidden rooms (like at 21 Club) evading police raids.

10. Cow Tunnels Under Manhattan – In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, NYC built underground tunnels, like one near 12th Avenue and 38th Street, to move cattle from slaughterhouses to the waterfront, avoiding street chaos. These “cow tunnels” are mostly abandoned now, with some still hidden beneath the city.