1. NYPLMaps shares a few details about one of the oldest streets in New York City, Maiden Lane, which was also known as T’Maagde Paatje.

    nyplmaps:

    Appleton’s Dictionary of Greater New York And Its Neighborhood (1905):

    Maiden Lane

    A Street running from Broadway between John and Liberty Sts., east to the East River, is one of the most ancient in New York. It was established as a road in the earliest times of the Dutch, its course through a valley being the easiest route of passage from the two great highways along the North [ Hudson ]and East River sides and was from the first used as such. It was then known as “T’Maagde Paatje,” or the Maidens Path. It was laid out as a street about 1693, during the governorship of Colonel Fletcher, when it received its present name. At present it is lined with substantial stores and is the center of the wholesale jewelry trade.     

    Plan of the city of New York in North America (1776)

    Maiden Lane, New York. Jewelry centre of the world (ca. 1885)

  2. Check out this great historic photo of our library lions Patience and Fortitude, taken sometime between 1910 and 1960 outside of our landmark 42nd Street building. The image was captured by the famous Wurts Brothers, and is now in our Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. It’s also in our Digital Gallery - hey, did you know you can buy prints of any image in the Digital Gallery? You can make your home or office nicer while supporting NYPL. And right now, in honor of the 42nd Street building’s 100th birthday, you can get 20 percent off your next purchase if you use the code Yes100 at checkout! So buy yourself something nice!

    Check out this great historic photo of our library lions Patience and Fortitude, taken sometime between 1910 and 1960 outside of our landmark 42nd Street building. The image was captured by the famous Wurts Brothers, and is now in our Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. It’s also in our Digital Gallery - hey, did you know you can buy prints of any image in the Digital Gallery? You can make your home or office nicer while supporting NYPL. And right now, in honor of the 42nd Street building’s 100th birthday, you can get 20 percent off your next purchase if you use the code Yes100 at checkout! So buy yourself something nice!