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The places we inherit. The stories we keep.

New York, through time.

Discover New York’s history, age reference and living heritage.

A city has many beginnings. Ages below count calendar years to 2026 from the stated milestone, not exact birthdays or the first human presence. Illustrations are AI-created artistic interpretations, not historical evidence.

Imagined New Amsterdam waterfront around 1625, modest timber houses and sailing vessels, varied people carrying everyday goods.
Imagined New Amsterdam waterfront around 1625, modest timber houses and sailing vessels, varied people carrying everyday goods. · AI illustration

New Amsterdam civic reference

New York

401 yearsfrom 1625 CE to 2026

New York's official chronology lists 1625 as the establishment of Nieuw Amsterdam as a seat of government. Lenape communities lived here long before Dutch colonisation. Colonial growth also relied on enslaved African labor, an essential part of the city's story.

Remember, celebrate, explore

Explore the city's early records alongside the stories of the people who built and inhabited it.

Heritage suggestions are not an event schedule. Check current dates and access with local organisers.

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What comes next?

Learn from the past. Share a better city.

Explore practical ideas for greener, more welcoming places, and prepare a practice to share with another city.

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