Hidden Histories of New York City

New York City's iconography is everywhere. Look beyond bright lights and explore its B-sides—how an unassuming city block shaped the music industry, how a piece of guerrilla art became Wall Street's photo-op fixture, and why alcohol cellars were built into the Brooklyn Bridge.

This city is one of five iconic stops in Hidden Histories, a collection of episodes uncovering the best-kept secrets of each destination. Find our recommended episodes on New York City below, and explore our New York City guide on Apple Maps by searching for "Apple Podcasts."

  1. New Year, New Neighborhood

    12/24/2024

    New Year, New Neighborhood

    The story of New Year's Eve in (2:46) Times Square, and how a quiet group of unelected Manhattan property owners used the holiday—and their own undemocratic municipal power—to transform the neighborhood from its porn-theater-and-vice-rich past to its flashy, family-friendly present. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. 2 - By the People: Crowdfunding a Global Icon

    05/13/2019

    2 - By the People: Crowdfunding a Global Icon

    How much effort do you think it took to raise Lady Liberty's torch above the New York Harbor? Today, technology allows us to collect donations from thousands of people in the click of a button. But in the 1880s, crowdfunding was a far greater endeavor. And yet, the Statue of Liberty was made possible only through the donations of hundreds of thousands of everyday French and American citizens. On this episode of Raising the Torch, we learn about the fascinating fundraising tactics used to construct, transport, and erect this global icon.

  3. Central Park: What Lies Beneath

    10/06/2022

    Central Park: What Lies Beneath

    Central Park is an oasis of nature in New York City, amidst the countless skyscrapers and gridded streets of Manhattan. Over 800 acres of sweeping fields, shaded pathways and picturesque vistas attract more than 42 million visitors a year. It was created to give free and equal access to recreational space for all. But, as Don hears from Leslie Alexander, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of History at Rutgers University, underneath Central Park are the remains of Seneca - a village of African-American, Irish and German communities, whose inhabitants were forced from their homes to make way for the park’s construction in 1857. Produced by Benjie Guy. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas. Senior Producer: Charlotte Long. (00:51) Central Park For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. The Broadway Musical: Setting the Stage

    12/13/2013

    The Broadway Musical: Setting the Stage

    The Broadway musical is one of New York City's greatest inventions, over 150 years in the making! It's one of the truly American art forms, fueling one of the city's most vibrant entertainment businesses and defining its most popular tourist attraction -- Times Square. But why Broadway, exactly? Why not the Bowery or Fifth Avenue? And how did our fair city go from simple vaudeville and minstrel shows to 'Shuffle Along', 'Irene' and 'Show Boat', surely the beginning of the truly modern American musical? This podcast is an epic and wild musical adventure in itself, full of musical interludes, zipping through the evolution of musical entertainment in New York City, as it races up the 'main seam' of Manhattan -- the avenue of Broadway, past some of the greatest theaters and shows that have ever won acclaim here, from the wacky (and highly copied) imports of Gilbert & Sullivan to the dancing girls and singing sensations of the Jazz Age. After listening to this episode, please explore the Bowery Boys podcast catalog for other adventures into New York City history.(01:41) Broadway   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. This Day in History | After Penn Station Fell, Jackie Kennedy Fought to Save Grand Central

    May 20

    This Day in History | After Penn Station Fell, Jackie Kennedy Fought to Save Grand Central

    On this episode of Our American Stories, before she became First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a lifelong New Yorker who deeply believed America’s historic landmarks were worth saving. So when developers threatened to demolish Grand Central Terminal in the 1970s, much like they had already destroyed the original Penn Station, Jackie stepped into the fight to preserve one of New York City’s most recognizable buildings.Natasha Wing, author of the children’s book When Jackie Saved Grand Central, shares the story of how Jackie Kennedy Onassis helped rally public support to save the historic rail terminal, turning a local preservation battle into a national movement. The fight eventually reached the Supreme Court and helped reshape the future of historic preservation across America. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) (00:28) Grand Central Terminal Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Structural Integrity

    04/15/2014

    Structural Integrity

    When the (0:43) 601 Lexington / Citicorp Tower was completed in 1977, the 59-story skyscraper had a potentially fatal flaw that could have caused it to collapse in a severe storm. Once engineers realized the danger, they launched a secret emergency repair operation, welding through the night while evacuation plans and weather monitoring were quietly put in place. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. The Bull of Wall Street

    11/10/2023

    The Bull of Wall Street

    Every day in Manhattan, about 1,000 people will stand outside in a long line waiting for their chance to take a picture with a bronze bull. On many of those days, PJ Vogt stares at the scene trying to decode what exactly is going on here. This week, he get answers, and a story that leads back to one of the most peculiar art crimes of the 1980s. If you want to see the images & video referenced in this episode, or if you'd like to support the show, head to our newsletter.

  8. Studio 54: Tax Evasion! At the Disco

    11/24/2025

    Studio 54: Tax Evasion! At the Disco

    In the 1970s, Studio 54 stood as the ultimate temple of disco, decadence, and hedonism. Lifelong friends and business partners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager curated a coveted guest list, deciding who slipped past the velvet rope into a celebrity-studded playground that attracted everyone from Cher to Truman Capote to Imelda Marcos. But while Steve and Ian were meticulous about crafting the perfect mix of the rich, famous and beautiful, they were far less disciplined with their finances. Skimming cash became routine – and a series of missteps eventually brought their seemingly neverending party crashing down. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Scamfluencers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  9. What was Tin Pan Alley?

    05/23/2019

    What was Tin Pan Alley?

    Tin Pan Alley was an area of New York around the beginning of the 20th Century that served as ground zero for the earliest iterations of the music publishing industry. Learn all about this unique place and time right now.  (2:36) Tin Pan Alley Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  10. The Champagne Vaults in the Brooklyn Bridge

    10/02/2025

    The Champagne Vaults in the Brooklyn Bridge

    We delve into one of our favorite New York City secrets: the champagne and wine vaults inside the Brooklyn Bridge. If you haven't heard of this delicious tidbit, you're in for a ride through a bygone New York. If you do know about it, Michelle and Justin from Untapped New York are sharing additional insider secrets about this subject that are not publicly known, or have ever been written about. Cheers!  (01:25) Brooklyn Bridge Music by Kittens Ablaze.  If you love to go behind the scenes and into NYC's' most hidden and secret places, jump onto some of our most exciting tours like the Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Avenue, the Secrets of Grand Central, or our Underground Subway Tour or join our Insiders program for access to the most off limits places with curated behind-the-scenes events on a weekly basis. 20% off yearly membership at untappedcities.com/podcast20