New York Melting Pot Photographs Go On Display
Unidentified photographer, Hester Street, West from the Southwest Corner of Norfolk Street, New York City, ca. 1898.
Opening November 28 at The New York Historical is a new exhibition exploring themes of memory, identity, and community.
Stirring the Melting Pot: Photographs from The New York Historical Collections examines the immigrant experience in New York City through March 29, 2026.
“New York has always been a city of immigrants, and the photographs on view in Stirring the Melting Pot tell the story of resilience, identity, and belonging across generations,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of The New York Historical. “Through candid moments, the images reveal how individuals and families both preserved their heritage and transformed the city itself, creating community along the way.”
The display provides an intimate portrait of the everyday lives of New Yorkers from across the globe who have made a mark on the cityscape. Drawn from the holdings of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, the exhibition features more than 100 photographs and objects that capture how generations of immigrants have shaped the city they came to call home.
Spanning the 20th century, the photographs showcase children at play and in classrooms, seniors at recreational centers, workers in sweatshops and factories, families gathered at home, and celebrants at parades and festivals forming a visual record of adaptation and community building. The exhibition also explores the many cultural and religious expressions in New York City, with depictions of Greek Orthodox churches, Cambodian Buddhist temples, Jewish synagogues, and Sikh temples that reflect the city’s rich spiritual tapestry.
