Themes in American History

      It was my second visit to the Museum of City of New York where i found that an artifacts and things were totally being replaced in compare to my first visit in 2009.While going to the museum i saw the immigrants people who were sharing their shelter and culture with each other living in a similar environment which displayed and made me realize the consequences of all those historic wars and movements that an immigrants like Irish and African Americans people stood and fought for their moral rights; the rights for an equality. It was the perfect day for my visit to the museum; as the things went well without any disturbance and conflicts.

Though the museum was not big, it was very well displayed and organized either in terms of portraying anyone’s background or showing the historic evidence or culture that has been followed by today’s world. Since i read and had some knowledge about the power of Dutch and British leader during 1600s, i didn’t find hard on understanding the words and the video called, “Timespace” that showed the evolution of the city and its gradual development until now.

The most interesting exhibits  i enjoyed in the museum was in the area titled, ” New York Interiors 1690-1906)” where things were presented and arranged reflecting the changes over time in styles, production and wealth growth from the colonial era through the dawn of 20^th century. The gallery mainly highlighted the furniture and decorative arts made in New York City. It showed the evolution of New York interior design that initiated through the Dutch furniture influence found in early colonial period.

Despite the fact that an architectural features used in this area doesn’t contain an actual interiors, it highly constituted historic incorporating materials, color schemes used in the rooms like ones used to display during those periods. The museum also highlighted on the roles of two immigrants named Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854), born in Scotland, and Charles- Honore Lannuier ( 1779-1819), born in France who played a key role on shaping the city’s character during the early 19^th century by bringing the distinctive European- based classical styles to New York. It shows that most of an American styles, Interior designs are originated through a European ideas which we can still see in today’s world.

After exploring the interior styles of both British and Americans, I stepped down to the cafeteria in order to get some snacks and drinks. But as I was walking I saw an exhibition of small cars, horses, ships, that looked like a toys and which attracted my attention to know what it was all about . As I was looking at the exhibits, the information about the fire trucks reminded me of the movie “Gangs of New York”, which relates to late 19^th century. Due to the advanced change in technology various changes occurred in the city in terms of rules and regulations. In New York City the volunteer firefighters were replaced by a paid municipal fire department where horses were used to pull the fire engines in 1865. As early fire trucks used to carry everything necessary to fight a fire, including hoses, hooks, and ladders; by the late 19^th century, separate hose carriages and hook-and-ladder trucks accompanied the fire wagon to the fire.

 So in overall visit and exploration, I learned about the cause of making the New York City and how and what aspects changed the New York City gradually in terms of art, culture, politics, technologies, and economy of the nation.

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As you will see in this video, there is a new fire system in the borough of Brooklyn, which was supposedly the best in the world. It was a complete state of the art Fire Telegraph system. With this system it took only six seconds for the firefighters to be informed about a fire. At that time this must have been considered as the most modern thing possible in the firefighting industry. There was tremendous pressure on the city fire officials to improve after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and there was a huge improvement over the next decade. In the 1920s, the fire department had the resources, what at that time they thought were the best in the world. Now when we look at the video, we may not think so and actually I did chuckle a time or two as well. But then I think about the fire fighters I seen in the “Gangs of New York” movie and quickly realize the progress this industry has made since.

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I agree with many of the comments above that Hollywood has destroyed the historical integrity of the era to produce a inaccurate film to attract viewers.  Even the reviewer, DiGrilamo states how can historians compete with Hollywoods effects, plots, and depictions of history (P126).  Although the plot during Five Points seem sensationalized, it does concentrate on a important period of New York City; the Draft Riots.  The reviewer points out that Scorcese does a good job portraying the conflict and tension between Irish immigrants with the natives and the division between Catholics and Protestants.

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