Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues and Heroes Behind New York’s Place Names
Why are New York’s roads, bridges, buildings, and institutions named after certain people? Who were those people and why did they matter so much? Professor Rebecca Bratspies explains all in this fascinating romp through not only New York history, but also the history of the practice of naming things after individuals, and the complex specifics of how that usually happened. Episode 527
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Buzzkill Bookshelf
Rebecca Bratspies, Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues and Heroes Behind New York’s Place Names
The Van Wyck, the Major Deegan, the Jackie Robinson, the Hutch, the Merritt, FDR Drive, or the Henry Hudson…you might drive them regularly, without really noticing that those road names are, well, names. But, who were these people?
New York City’s many roads, bridges, neighborhoods and institutions bear the names of a colorful assortment of people from key periods in the city’s history. Learning about the people iconic Gotham landmarks are named for is a unique window into the history of the greatest city in the world.
Author Rebecca Bratspies takes readers on a place-based, intimate, historical journey on a human scale.
