History   

A departure from our regular medieval fare, this lecture highlights the findings of a historical side project on the first generation of women who served as detectives and investigators for New York City institutions, including the NYPD and the County Medical Society. Join us as we explore how these glass-ceiling-shattering women went undercover to make the city a safer place in the early 20th century!

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

For students who want to register for all four October History Happy Hour classes at the same time for a combined discounted rate. Series includes:

Medieval Witches - Wednesday, October 6

On the Medieval Farm - Wednesday, October 13

Rainbows, Comets, and Weeping Crosses, Oh My! - Wednesday, October 20

Alchemy - Philosophies and Practices - Wednesday, October 27

To register for individual classes of the series, please click on the class titles above.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

The accusation of witchcraft served as a way to punish outsiders, marginal figures, and, above all, women.  What did it mean to be branded a witch, and how did the system of punishment develop from inquisition to the early modern era?  Join us as we track the so-called witch craze, exposing the fears of past societies and the victims who faced them.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

Although they had “time off” for one-third of the year, medieval peasants—both men and women—worked extremely hard, performing backbreaking labor under the hot sun, corralling oxen, and harvesting yields that were necessary guards against starvation.  In this lecture, we will look at the agricultural technologies that revolutionized medieval farming, depictions of harvest, and the traditions that made this time of year just a little bit fun!

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

Signs spotted in the sky were interpreted by medieval minds as indications of fortune or ill favor.  Deeply symbolic, the omens reported help us understand how medieval people connected to the natural environment.  This lecture will bring together text and image to pinpoint moments that were perceived as God reaching down to touch the earth, through celestial phenomena such as comets, eclipses, and other strange sightings!

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

From ancient Egyptian writings to medieval hunts for the Philosopher’s Stone, alchemy’s long history continues to enchant and intrigue us.  What fueled the obsession with turning base metals into gold, seeking the elixir of life, and recording findings in arcane ciphers?  Join us as we pursue alchemical practices through natural philosophy, chemistry, and esoteric magical potions.  Grab a spooky beverage!

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

For students who want to register for all three History of Central Park classes at the same time for a combined discounted rate. 

Series includes:

Development, Design, and Construction - Thursday, September 23

Fountains, Castles, and Architectural Beauties - Thursday, September 30

Alice in Wonderland, Sojourner Truth, and Balto - an Outdoor Museum of Art - Thursday, October 7

To register for individual classes of the series, please click on the class titles above.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

The three online classes will be followed by an in-person walking tour of beautiful Central Park during peak foliage season on October 21. To register for the Historical Walking Tour of Central Park, please click here.

What is the most visited urban park in the country? New York’s Central Park! Join Ginny Poleman to discover the story behind the development, design, and construction of Central Park.
This class is part of a three-part series that covers how the city’s early 19th century elite called for a new large park in Manhattan— “to serve as a ventilator to a densely populated city,” how it became the country’s model for the urban park, and today’s beautiful and functional destination for New York’s residents and tourists, alike. To register for the The History of Central Park: 3-Class Series, please click here.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

What is the most visited urban park in the country? New York’s Central Park! Join Ginny Poleman to discover the story behind the fountains, castles, and other architectural beauties of Central Park.

This class is part of a three-part series that covers how the city’s early 19th century elite called for a new large park in Manhattan— “to serve as a ventilator to a densely populated city,” how it became the country’s model for the urban park, and today’s beautiful and functional destination for New York’s residents and tourists, alike. To register for the The History of Central Park: 3-Class Series, please click here.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

What is the most visited urban park in the country? New York’s Central Park! Join Ginny Poleman to discover the story behind the statues that turn Central Park into an outdoor museum of art.

This class is part of a three-part series that covers how the city’s early 19th century elite called for a new large park in Manhattan— “to serve as a ventilator to a densely populated city,” how it became the country’s model for the urban park, and today’s beautiful and functional destination for New York’s residents and tourists, alike. To register for the The History of Central Park: 3-Class Series, please click here.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

One of New York City’s most devastating architectural losses was the original Beaux Arts masterpiece Penn Station, designed by Charles McKim of the Gilded Age’s McKim, Mead & White. Learn what made building the station possible, how it connected Manhattan to the country, and its ultimate demise in this informative webinar with Ginny Poleman.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.