The Kingsbridge Historical Society

Takings: A History of Land Disputes Along the Croton Aqueduct
2025-10-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
Meeting Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83126192172
The opening of the Old Croton Aqueduct in 1842 was one of New York State’s early great achievements. This reliable source of clean water transformed New York City forever—offering solutions to the problems of destructive fires and disease. A section of this engineering marvel survives in our neighborhood as the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail in Van Cortlandt Park.
When the Old Croton Aqueduct was built, it disrupted many long standing working farms and estates throughout Westchester, the Bronx, and Manhattan when the State used eminent domain to acquire land. Although local landowners were powerless to stop the project, they did win several concessions, including small route diversions, the creation of tunnels and ramps for access to the river, and even the design of the glorious Highbridge to allow for river navigation. In this special lecture, historian Keith Doherty will document how the Old Croton Aqueduct affected the local landscape and how property owners in turn shaped the Old Croton Aqueduct.
Join historian Keith Doherty for this FREE presentation on October 9th @ 7:00 PM at the Kingsbridge Historical Society (2570 Independence Avenue in The Bronx).
Speaker Bio:
Keith Doherty is a Westchester County native who grew up along the Old Croton Aqueduct. He was a Professor of Art History for twelve years at Boston University and has in recent years been researching the infrastructure and early history of Westchester and New York City.

U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World
2025-09-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
Zoom Link for Event: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7916551954?omn=81128093948
Thant Myint-U, an award-winning writer, historian, and international public servant, will speak about his new book, Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World. U Thant was the Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1961-1971, and, as the first non-Westerner in that role, led the world organization at the height of the Cold War. It was a time when the newly independent nations of Asia and Africa came to the fore at the UN, and when, for a while. a global peace seemed both urgent and possible. His grandson, Thant Myint-U, through research into newly declassified archives, tells in his book an entirely new story of the 1960s, including U Thant’s pivotal role in the Congo crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the India-Pakistan War of 1965, his multi-year efforts to end the war in Vietnam, and his failed attempt to prevent the 1967 Six Day War.
Thant Myint-U lived with his grandfather as a young child at the Palisades Avenue estate, which was then the official residence of the UN Secretary-General and the scene of key moments in world history. His talk will include photographs, including family photographs, never before shown, as well as a discussion of his family’s life in Riverdale.
The presentation will take place at the Kingsbridge Historical Society (2570 Independence Ave) on Thursday, September 18th at 7 PM. Join us in person or on Zoom.
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Kingsbridge Remembers the American Revolution - Exhibit Open Hours
2025-09-14 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-09 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-08 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-07 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-19 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-18 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-04 11:00 - 16:00 and 7 more dates | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
1775 Marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the most dramatic 8 years in the history of Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Spuyten Duyvil, Marble Hill and Inwood. George Washington, French nobility, enslaved people, a Lenape Chief, common farmers, and many more shaped the history of our nation right here. The Bronx streets of today were once a battlefield, but also the homeland of local residents who faced difficult choices and nearly impossible circumstances.
Kingsbridge Remembers the American Revolution is an exhibit and series of public programs that will shed light on local events of the Revolution and place them in a larger context. The exhibit features original period artifacts, artwork, maps, digital displays, and interpretive panels that will bring that period to life. It will change the way you look at the neighborhood and reveal its amazing past.
Artifacts from the archives of local institutions are pulled together for the first time–some of which have never been displayed before. Rarely seen commemorative artwork from the bicentennial compliments newly commissioned artwork by award-winning historical illustrator (and Bronx resident) Gary Zaboly. Interpretive panels featuring new research and findings tell an inclusive story about the people, places, and events that made Kingsbridge important during the Revolution. A digital interactive map display helps make sense of the area’s geographic importance. A translated guide to the exhibit will be available in Spanish.
The exhibit opens June 8, 2025 and remains open every Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday in June thereafter from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Evening open hours and summer hours will be announced later in June.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Between Enemy Lines - Revolutionary War Walking Tour of Van Cortlandt
2025-09-13 11:00 - 14:30 | Van Cortlandt House Museum, 6036 Broadway, Bronx, NY, 10471
Learn more and get your free tickets here.

Van Cortlandt Park was a warzone . . . literally. During the American Revolution, the land that would become the park was caught between enemy lines as were the people that lived there. This walking tour and hike of the area in and around Van Cortlandt Park tells the story of the soldiers, generals, and battles but also the story of how local residents got through the most violent and dramatic 8 years in the history of The Bronx.
The first half of the tour is walk through the Van Cortlandt House Museum and surrounding park (about 1 mile). The second half is for anyone interested in continuing on a true hike: we will explore the area around the park to visit little-known places that played in a role in the Revolution (an additional 1.5 miles).The tour begins at the flag pole in front of Van Cortlandt House Museum. The first half ends at the Van Cortlandt family burial vault. You can decide from there if you would like to continue on the hike.
The tour will be led by Nick Dembowski (Kingsbridge Historical Society President) and Margaret Holmes (Van Cortlandt House Museum Director).
Admission is FREE. Registration is required. Walk-ups may not be accomodated due to space limitations.
This event is sponsored by Van Cortlandt House Museum and the Kingsbridge Historical Society.
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Kingsbridge at the Dawn of the American Revolution
2025-08-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, 4881 Broadway @ W. 204th Street, New York City, NY, 10034
Register for the Zoom here.
Was the American Revolution made up of battles, soldiers, forts, and ships? Or was the real Revolution the change that occurred in the minds of the people: that they no longer wanted a king and parliament ruling them from thousands of miles away? John Adams and others thought it was the latter.
This presentation will focus on the local politics in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War in Kingsbridge, which was caught between New York City and Westchester. It will focus on the years of 1774 and 1775 when the Revolution in the minds of the people was taking shape. The events of those years, while not as well-celebrated as 1776, set the stage for the most dramatic and violent years in the history of historic Kingsbridge, which included the modern neighborhoods of Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Marble Hill, and Inwood.
Join local historian, Nick Dembowski, for an in-depth look at the social, political, and physical landscape that set the Revolution in motion in Kingsbridge and New York. The presentation is free and open to the public on the back porch of the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum at 4881 Broadway at W. 204th Street in upper Manhattan. The event starts at 6PM and should last an hour. A zoom link will be posted here as the event approaches.
More information about the venue can be found here.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Evening Open Hours and Guided Exhibit Tour
2025-06-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
We will be open in the evening this Monday (6:30 to 8:30) to give everyone a chance to see our new exhibit on the American Revolution. Come at 7:00 PM to join a guided tour of the exhibit led by curator Nick Dembowski. The tour will be a great opportunity to ask questions and get into conversations about the Revolution in our area.

1775 Marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the most dramatic 8 years in the history of Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Spuyten Duyvil, Marble Hill and Inwood. George Washington, French nobility, enslaved people, a Lenape Chief, common farmers, and many more shaped the history of our nation right here. The Bronx streets of today were once a battlefield, but also the homeland of local residents who faced difficult choices and nearly impossible circumstances.
Kingsbridge Remembers the American Revolution is an exhibit and series of public programs that will shed light on local events of the Revolution and place them in a larger context. The exhibit features original period artifacts, artwork, maps, digital displays, and interpretive panels that will bring that period to life. It will change the way you look at the neighborhood and reveal its amazing past.
Artifacts from the archives of local institutions are pulled together for the first time–some of which have never been displayed before. Rarely seen commemorative artwork from the bicentennial compliments newly commissioned artwork by award-winning historical illustrator (and Bronx resident) Gary Zaboly. Interpretive panels featuring new research and findings tell an inclusive story about the people, places, and events that made Kingsbridge important during the Revolution. A digital interactive map display helps make sense of the area’s geographic importance. A translated guide to the exhibit will be available in Spanish.
The exhibit opens June 8, 2025 and remains open every Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday in June thereafter from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Evening open hours and summer hours will be announced later in June.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

A REVOLUTION OF HER OWN!
2025-06-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
FRIDAY JUNE 27 @ 7 PM
2570 INDEPENDENCE AVE, BRONX
GET YOUR FREE TICKETS HERE.
Deborah Sampson, the first woman to fight in and be honorably discharged from the American Military, captivates audiences in an Immersive Living History Experience chronicling her life. An indentured servant by age five, Deborah grew up in a man’s world, where women were naught but second-class citizens. As a self-educated, masterless woman, she felt a higher calling, and in the final years of the American Revolution, Deborah bound her chest, tied back her hair, and enlisted in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army as “Robert Shurtlieff.”
“A Revolution of Her Own!” was created by award-winning playwright, Judith Kalaora, who performs as Deborah Sampson. Having been performed nearly 2,500 times, the award-winning living history experience is internationally renowned, was thrice named one of the Top 7 Things to Do in NYC, and received a standing ovation Off-Broadway, in the United Solo Theatre Festival, 42nd St, NYC.
Contains simulated violence. Viewer discretion is advised. Suitable for all ages.Running Time: 60 minutes, followed by Q&A.

Picturing the Past: A Conversation with Bronx Artist Gary Zaboly
2025-06-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
This year the Kingsbridge Historical Society has been thrilled to work with Bronx artist/illustrator Gary Zaboly to craft depictions of people and places in our neighborhood during the American Revolution for our “Kingsbridge Remembers” exhibit. We have been mining historical maps and records to imagine scenes that have never been depicted before:
The local militia company mustered in Kingsbridge in August of 1775. Pen and Ink, Gary Zaboly, 2025.
Join us for a conversation about this project with Gary Zaboly at the Kingsbridge Historical Society on Thursday, June 12th at 7 PM. This event will be held in person but also live-streamed over Zoom (check back here for Zoom details).
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86573517661
Bronx artist, Gary Zaboly, and Kingsbridge Historical Society President, Nick Dembowski, will discuss the process of creating accurate depictions of the people and landscapes of the northwest Bronx and upper Manhattan during the Revolution. Gary Zaboly will talk about the complexities of imagining a landscape obscured by hundreds of years of change and urbanization. These pictures say a lot more than 1,000 words!
Gary Zaboly
Gary Zaboly was born and raised in New York City and lives in Spuyten Duyvil. He is an award-winning author, artist, and illustrator. His work has been featured/exhibited in countless publications and places including The Alamo, the Fort Ticonderoga Museum, the Custer Battlefield Museum, and in the collections of Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson and the singer, Phil Collins!
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Kingsbridge Remembers the American Revolution - Exhibit Opening
2025-06-08 11:00 - 16:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463

Hike postponed due to weather
2025-05-31 13:00 - 14:30 | Van Cortlandt House Museum, 6036 Broadway, Bronx, NY, 10471
Event postponed due to weather.
Admission is FREE. Registration is required. Register HERE.

Van Cortlandt Park was a warzone . . . literally. During the American Revolution, the land that would become the park was caught between enemy lines as were the people that lived there. This walking tour and hike of the area in and around Van Cortlandt Park tells the story of the soldiers, generals, and battles but also the story of how local residents got through the most violent and dramatic 8 years in the history of The Bronx.The first half of the tour is walk through the Van Cortlandt House Museum and surrounding park (about 1 mile). The second half is for anyone interested in continuing on a true hike: we will explore the area around the park to visit little-known places that played in a role in the Revolution (an additional 1.5 miles).The tour begins at the flag pole in front of Van Cortlandt House Museum. The first half ends at the Van Cortlandt family burial vault. You can decide from there if you would like to continue on the hike.
The tour will be led by Nick Dembowski (Kingsbridge Historical Society President) and Margaret Holmes (Van Cortlandt House Museum Director).
This event is sponsored by Van Cortlandt House Museum and the Kingsbridge Historical Society.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Pinkster Festival - New York's First African American Celebration
2025-05-03 12:00 - 16:00 | Van Cortlandt House Museum, 6036 Broadway, Bronx, NY, 10471
Celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Pinkster at this year’s Pinkster Festival hosted by the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Van Cortlandt House Museum, and Kingsbridge Historical Society. Join us on the picturesque lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences.
Join us on the picturesque lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences.

Live Music with Chief Baba Neil Clarke, Master Percussionist
Story of Pinkster with the Pinkster Players
Stories with April Armstrong, Master Storyteller
Tours with Carla & Keyes, History Interpreters
Make Art with Tijay Mohammed, Artist
Afro-Dutch Cooking Demonstration with Cheyney McKnight

PLUS: African food and crafts for sale!
WHAT IS PINKSTER?
Once a major holiday in 17th century New York, Pinkster is the Dutch name for the Christian event of Pentecost.
For enslaved and free people of African descent, Pinkster morphed into a unique holiday that incorporated African rituals, traditions, and pride. It is considered New York’s first African American holiday!
To learn more about Pinkster watch this video of captivating discussion with local historians, Lavada Nahon and Chief Baba Neil Clarke, as they unravel the significance of Pinkster, exploring its cultural, social, and historical importance.
Supported by:
NYC Councilmember Eric Dinowitz
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
NYC Department of Youth and Community Development
NYS Council on the Arts
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
This event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The Boys of Kingsbridge - Film Screening
2025-04-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
The Kingsbridge Historical Society in association with Inwood Art Works presents a free screening of: The Boys of Kingsbridge. Thursday April 24, 2025 at Edgehill (2570 Independence Ave, Bronx)
Five friends from the same neighborhood in the NW Bronx grow up and go separate ways. Amazingly, four of them came to be at the same place at the time on that fateful day in September 2001. Written, Produced and Directed by Thom MacNamara, the “5th unseen friend,” The Boys of Kingsbridge is a compelling, gritty and honest story of survival, community, and what selfless people do in a time of crisis.
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The Dyckman Oval: How the Kingsbridge Athletics built a ballpark that changed baseball history
2025-04-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
Dyckman Oval: How the Kingsbridge athletics built a ballpark that changed baseball history – A presentation by Don Rice (in person AND on Zoom)
At the dawn of the 1900s a brand new subway snaked its way north to 242nd Street, far from downtown’s crowded world. Almost overnight, North Manhattan and the NW Bronx became a haven for NYC’s weekend sports enthusiasts. Baseball diamonds sprang up, and semipro teams established home fields along the newly opened subway route. In 1917 the semipro Kingsbridge Athletics leased some land in Inwood, just a few blocks south of their home turf. They built bleachers and christened the ballpark the Dyckman Oval. Over the years Dyckman Oval hosted dozens of future Hall-of-Famers, peaking in the 1930s when the New York Cubans battled the Pittsburg Crawfords for two games of the 1935 Negro National League World Series. At the presentation we’ll talk about the teams, the players and the stories of this celebrated yet largely forgotten ballpark and see rare photos from the era.

Thursday April 10, 2025 at 7 PM at Edgehill (2570 Independence Ave, Bronx). Join us there in person or on Zoom at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89121030415
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

A Photographic Tour of Kingsbridge at the Turn of the Century
2025-03-19 17:00 - 18:00 | RSS Center for Ageless Living, 2600 Netherland Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10463
Join us at RSS for a special free presentation featuring rarely seen photographs from the collection of the Kingsbridge Historical Society and other sources. Former KHS president, Peter Ostrander, takes you on a tour of the neighborhood that stood on the cusp of major transformation but still had a small-town feel.
The presentation will take place at RSS (2600 Netherland Ave) on Wednesday, March 19th at 5 PM. Join us in person or on Zoom.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85177186894
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

No Event Today - Croton Acqueduct presentation was postponed
2025-03-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
The event originally scheduled for today has been postponed

Paradise Bronx - Book Talk with author Ian Frazier (free ticket required)
2025-02-27 19:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
Join Bronx County Historical Society, the Kingsbridge Historical Society, and author Ian Frazier for a book talk on his recent Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York’s Greatest Borough (2024). Talk will be moderated by BCHS visiting scholar Dr. Amy Starecheski of Columbia University. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve a free ticket now.
Update: The event will be held in the Tate Library at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. Onsite parking is available.
Get your tickets here.
Enter here:

The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
