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

Aug 15, 2025 · 48 min
#467 The Brooklyn Theatre Fire: The Forgotten Gilded Age Tragedy
The strange, sad tale of the Brooklyn Theatre Fire, the Gilded Age disaster that has been nearly forgotten today.
Aug 8, 2025 · 1 hr 23 min
#466 Pete's Tavern and McSorley's Old Ale House
The history of New York City's oldest surviving bars continues, recorded within two of the city's most treasured 19th century drinking establishments.
Aug 1, 2025 · 1 hr 20 min
#465 The Oldest Bars in New York City
The history of New York City — as told through the stories of its oldest taverns and ale houses.
Jul 25, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
#464 New York: The City of Oysters
New York City used to be closely associated with the oyster but pollution and overfarming erased them from the harbor. Could they be making a return?
Jul 18, 2025 · 1 hr 27 min
#463 Gilded Age Golden Girls (Live At City Winery)
A celebration of the Gilded Age's most interesting women and the world they created in New York society. Recorded live at City Winery.
Jul 11, 2025 · 54 min
Spirits Podcast: Urban Legends with Greg Young
Ready for a little summertime spookfest? This week we're thrilled to present to you a podcast appearance Greg made back in April on the Spirits Podcast. Hosted by Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini, the Spirits Podcast is a weekly conversational show about all things ghosts, mythology, folklore and urban legends. If you like fun spooky things, add the podcast to your regular rotation! And as a sample, here is Greg's appearance on the show, talking about all sorts of New York City ghosty things. Get your tickets for the Bowery Boys Ghost Stories of Old New York live show at Joe's Pub. And here's the complete list of Bowery Boys ghost story podcasts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jul 3, 2025 · 48 min
#462 The Jersey Shore Shark Attacks of 1916
What was in the water when sharks began killing people in New Jersey in 1916?
Jun 27, 2025 · 1 hr 29 min
The Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Avenue
The saga of Fifth Avenue's Gilded Age mansions, those that once stood in Midtown Manhattan and those survivors which still decorate the Upper East Side today.
Jun 20, 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
#461 The Story of Inwood and Marble Hill
Inwood and Marble Hill -- aka "upstate Manhattan" -- are far from the center of New York's midtown urban activity but that distance provides both neighborhoods with fascinating and even unusual origin stories.
Jun 13, 2025 · 50 min
Children of the Gilded Age
The children of the Gilded Age were seen but not heard. Until now!
Jun 6, 2025 · 52 min
#460 The Brooklyn Museum and the Birth of a New City
The Brooklyn Museum, known for its wildly popular cutting-edge exhibitions, can actually trace its origins back to a more rustic era -- and to the birth of the city of Brooklyn itself.
May 23, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
#459 Moses vs. Bard: The Battle for Castle Clinton
It's super developer Robert Moses vs. civic activist Albert S. Bard in a battle for the New York harbor and the historic landmarks of lower Manhattan.
May 16, 2025 · 48 min
The Trial of John Peter Zenger (Rewind)
It's William Cosby vs. John Peter Zenger in a trial which gave birth to the freedom of the press and other foundational aspects of American democracy.
May 9, 2025 · 55 min
#458 Parkways and the Transformation of Brooklyn
When Prospect Park first opened to the public in the late 1860s, its superstar landscape designers — Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux -- were preparing a couple other special touches -- the creation of the first two parkways in the United States.
Apr 25, 2025 · 59 min
#457 FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD
The story behind a legendary New York Daily News headline. While President Ford never literally told New York to "drop dead", his words did signal the severity of New York's problem -- the city was on the brink of bankruptcy.
Apr 18, 2025 · 59 min
#456 Walking New York: Manhattan History on Foot with Keith Taillon
Keith Taillon, the historian behind the popular Instagram account @keithyorkcity, discusses his journey documenting New York's history and his new book "Walking New York: Manhattan History on Foot."
Apr 11, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
#455 House of Beauty: The Story of the Frick Collection
The Frick Collection, one of New York's most fascinating institutions, and the controversial life of the man who founded it -- Henry Clay Frick.
Mar 28, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
#454 Special Delivery: A History of the Post Office
The history of the United States Postal Service as it plays out in the streets of New York City -- from the first post road to the first postage stamps.
Mar 21, 2025 · 58 min
#453 All The Beauty In The World: Guarding the Met with Patrick Bringley
Patrick Bringley discusses his book about being a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and his new off-Broadway show based on his best seller.
Mar 14, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
#452 How New York Got Its Name
In the year 1664, New Amsterdam was taken over by the English, and the New York officially got its name.

The Bowery Boys: New York City History

#467 The Brooklyn Theatre Fire: The Forgotten Gilded Age Tragedy

#466 Pete's Tavern and McSorley's Old Ale House

#465 The Oldest Bars in New York City

#464 New York: The City of Oysters

#463 Gilded Age Golden Girls (Live At City Winery)

Spirits Podcast: Urban Legends with Greg Young

#462 The Jersey Shore Shark Attacks of 1916

The Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Avenue

#461 The Story of Inwood and Marble Hill

Children of the Gilded Age

#460 The Brooklyn Museum and the Birth of a New City

#459 Moses vs. Bard: The Battle for Castle Clinton

The Trial of John Peter Zenger (Rewind)

#458 Parkways and the Transformation of Brooklyn

#457 FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD

#456 Walking New York: Manhattan History on Foot with Keith Taillon

#455 House of Beauty: The Story of the Frick Collection

#454 Special Delivery: A History of the Post Office

#453 All The Beauty In The World: Guarding the Met with Patrick Bringley

#452 How New York Got Its Name