New York Fun Facts

A little trivia. A little history. A whole lotta fun.

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

P.T. Barnum once had Jumbo lead a parade of 21 elephants across the Brooklyn Bridge in a publicity stunt. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

The first public viewing of a 3-D film was at New York's Astor Theater in 1915. | #NYC #NY

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

Alexander Hamilton established the New York Post in 1803. It is the oldest newspaper in America. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

Lady Liberty's torch arm was displayed at Madison Square Park for several years before final construction. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

The builders of the Empire State Building said it was designed to dock dirigibles. It never did. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

Invented in NYC in 1857, Gayetty's Medicated (Toilet) Paper was made of hemp "for the prevention of piles." | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

The astrological mural on the ceiling of Grand Central Terminal is nearly perfect. Only problem: it's backwards. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

The 9/11 Memorial reflecting pools are named "Reflecting Absence." They sit in the footprints of the Twin Towers. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

Alexander Hamilton, John Quincy Adams, Joseph Bonaparte & Washington Irving were early guests at the Gracie Mansion. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

The E.V. Haughwout Building in SoHo is the first building in the world built with a passenger elevator. | #NYC #NY

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

Jesse Owens gave Bill "Bojangles" Robinson his gold medal from the 1936 Olympics. It sold at auction for $1,466,574. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

In 1971, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) became a non-profit corporation. It remains so to this day. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

George Washington had to borrow money to get to New York for his first inauguration as president. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

The Alexander Hamilton U. S. Custom House was slated for demolition in the 1970s. Senator Moynihan saved it. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

The face of Lady Liberty was modeled after Bartholdi's mother while the body was modeled after his wife. | #NYC #NY

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

6 1/2 Avenue is a pedestrian-only passageway that extends from 51st and 56th streets in Manhattan. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

The Julliard String Quartet has performed with such musicians as Aaron Copland, Yo-Yo Ma and Albert Einstein. | #NYC

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

740 Park Ave is the home to more billionaires than any building in the world. | #NewYork #NYC #NY

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

The Harlem Globetrotters have played 24,000 games and won approximately 98.6 percent of them. | #NYC #NY

[New York Fun Facts @NewYorkFunFacts]

Dwight D. Eisenhower served as President of Columbia University before becoming President of the United States. | #NYC