The Bowery Boys: New York City History

Tom Meyers, Greg Young

The tides of American history flow through the streets of New York City — from the huddled masses on Ellis Island to the sleazy theaters of 1970s Times Square. Greg and Tom explore more than 400 years of action-packed stories, featuring both classic and forgotten figures who have shaped the world.

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563 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes563

Newest first

February 13 · 54 min
#479 NYC '84: The Case of the 'Subway Vigilante'
Looking back at the violent 'Subway Vigilante' incident and the subsequent trial which dominated headlines in mid-1980s New York City
January 30 · 1 hr 4 min
#478 The Disappearance of Judge Crater
The notorious disappearance of a famously corrupt judge unearths a deep well of misdeeds in 1930s New York City.
January 16 · 1 hr 41 min
The History of Brooklyn Heights and the Promenade
The epic tale of Brooklyn Heights and its Promenade -- which might help explain current events upon the New York City transportation landscape today.
January 2 · 46 min
#477 Chester A. Arthur: The Gentleman Boss
The fascinating tale of 'accidental' president and New York poltiical boss Chester A. Arthur who travelled a very unconventional path to the White House -- via Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.
Dec 23, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
#476 Hot Victorian Holiday: Bowery Boys History Live! at City Winery
Live from City Winery -- it's Greg Young! An an irreverent look at the holidays through a Victorian lens.
Dec 19, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
#475 Subway Tokens, MetroCards and Other Historic Fare
The surprisingly interesting story of paying for the subway, the streetcar and the bus -- on the occasion of the MetroCard retirement.
Dec 12, 2025 · 34 min
The Great Fire That Transformed New York
On a cold winter's evening in 1835, a terrible fire tore through lower Manhattan, destroying hundreds of buildings. But this fire also changed the course of New York City history.
Dec 5, 2025 · 1 hr 21 min
#474 Made in France: The Statue of Liberty’s Forgotten Origin Story
The history of the Statue of Liberty -- from the other side of the Atlantic. Tom heads to Colmar, France and the museum devoted to sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
Nov 28, 2025 · 57 min
The Last Ships From Hamburg: An Immigration Story
Historian Steven Ujifusa discusses the unique circumstances surrounding the arrival of Russian Jewish immigrants to the United States -- and draws on his own personal story.
Nov 21, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
#473 The Other Side of Ellis Island
For over fifty years, most European immigrants arriving into the United States came through Ellis Island in New York Harbor. But for an unfortunate few, their new lives could not begin until they spent some time on "the other side" of the island -- the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital.
Nov 14, 2025 · 47 min
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: A History in Lights
The history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and its annual lighting tradition -- through good times and bad.
Nov 7, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
#472 The Many Mysteries of Amelia Earhart
The secret world of Amelia Earhart -- from New York City to the skies -- as told by her biographer Laurie Gwen Shapiro,
Oct 24, 2025 · 57 min
Rodgers and Hammerstein: Some Enchanted Broadway History
How Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II became two of the most important artists in Broadway history? The story of their incomparable legacy.
Oct 10, 2025 · 1 hr 33 min
#471 Ghost Stories of Long Island
The haunted mansions, the ancient folktales, the spirited theaters, and the Revolutionary War ghosts of Long Island.
Sep 26, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
#470 The Grand Tale of the Erie Canal
Celebrating the construction of the Erie Canal, which opened 200 years ago this year.
Sep 19, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
#469 Dominican New York: A History In The Heights
The story of Dominican immigration into New York City -- from the very first immigrant (ever!) to the massive wave of new arrivals in theh 1960s.
Sep 12, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
19th Century NoHo: Glamour, Greed, Money, and Murder
The name 'NoHo' might be relatively new, but the history of those blocks north of Houston Street in Manhattan dates back to the beginnngs of New York City.
Sep 5, 2025 · 49 min
The Boy Mayor of New York
In 1913, a young reform candidate named John Purroy Mitchel navigated a very strange electorial year to become the city's new (and second youngest) mayor.
Aug 29, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
#468 Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue": A Jazz-Age Drama
The debut of George Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue', one of the 20th century's most important pieces of music.
Aug 22, 2025 · 32 min
History Daily: Pirate Tales!
The swashbuckling tale of Captain William Kidd and the notorious pirates Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and John Rackham

The Bowery Boys: New York City History

#479 NYC '84: The Case of the 'Subway Vigilante'

#478 The Disappearance of Judge Crater

The History of Brooklyn Heights and the Promenade

#477 Chester A. Arthur: The Gentleman Boss

#476 Hot Victorian Holiday: Bowery Boys History Live! at City Winery

#475 Subway Tokens, MetroCards and Other Historic Fare

The Great Fire That Transformed New York

#474 Made in France: The Statue of Liberty’s Forgotten Origin Story

The Last Ships From Hamburg: An Immigration Story

#473 The Other Side of Ellis Island

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: A History in Lights

#472 The Many Mysteries of Amelia Earhart

Rodgers and Hammerstein: Some Enchanted Broadway History

#471 Ghost Stories of Long Island

#470 The Grand Tale of the Erie Canal

#469 Dominican New York: A History In The Heights

19th Century NoHo: Glamour, Greed, Money, and Murder

The Boy Mayor of New York

#468 Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue": A Jazz-Age Drama

History Daily: Pirate Tales!