New York has always been dependent on its animals. From the deer and other wild animals that blazed the path that would later become Broadway to the workhorses later pulled the city’s trolleys along that same street, animals are an often overlooked key to understanding New York’s history.

In conjunction with the Pets and the City exhibition at the New York Historical, historian (and cat lover) James Nevius will explore the role that animals have played in shaping New York. This illustrated Zoom talk will feature wonderful pieces from the exhibition that illustrate the crucial role animals have played, from pre-colonization through the Lenape, the Dutch, and up through the Civil War.

Author and historian James Nevius (Inside the Apple; Footprints in New York) frequently speaks on New York City topics. Most recently at the New York Historical, he lectured on the paintings of the Ashcan School.

(at top: portrait of James Beekman, Jr., 1767, by John Durand; oil on canvas; New-York Historical Society, Gift of the Beekman Family.)

Each ticket covers one (1) registered device. You do not need to watch the lecture as it is happening if that's inconvenient for you -- approxmately 24 hours after the talk, a link will be emailed to all registered participants so that you can watch the talk at your leisure on Vimeo. Your registration will appear on your credit card statement as “Michelle Nevius.”