Views of Old New York City at Hofstra

Friday, 10 March 2006 11:09

Hempstead, NY.- The Hofstra Museum presents View of Old New York City: D.T. Valentine's Manuals, 1841-1870, through May 7, 2006, at the David Filderman Gallery, Axinn Library, 9th floor. Valentine's Manuals, each volume officially titled, Manual of the Common Council of the City of New York, are a collector's valued treasure and a historian's basic reference. These books are a source of delight for the eye, containing hundreds of maps, lithographs and woodcuts of New York City and times long past, often of sites long demolished. The Manuals are surely the first illustrated histories of New York City, the first comprehensive portrait of the City, and the first to use prints and maps relating to New York City so extensively and effectively. They are also amongo the first to organize and present a governmental record of the Corporation of the City of New York, including lists of offices, office holders, election results and financials summaries. In addition, they contain statistics as to numerous social and religious institutions, banks, hospitals, schools and any number of other related materials. The Audubon Estate on the Hudson was located beteween 155th and 158th Streets. It was the residence of James J. Audubon, the famed naturalist who bought the property in 1841. It had 44 heavily wooded acres. He built his house using an army of workmen, carpenters, smiths and masons. Audubon grew his own vegetables and hunted his own game. The House was the scene of triumph for the inventor of the telegraph Samuel F.B. Morse. In 1843 he placed a line from here to Philadelphia. The wire was ferried across the river in a row-boat and set up laundry of the mansion. Here the first message was sent from New York in the presence of Morse and Audubon and his family. Between 1843 and 1845 Audubon traveled west. He died in the house in February 1851. Visit The Hofstra Museum Website

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