History   

**Unless otherwise specified, to be eligible for a free class during our Open House, you may only register for a class with an instructor you have not taken before.** REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, discover the Revolutionary War history hidden throughout Westchester County through the firsthand accounts of those who lived it. Their experiences were preserved in the McDonald Interviews, conducted between 1844 and 1851 with Westchester residents who witnessed the war firsthand. Join Barbara Davis for a fascinating presentation exploring the dramatic military events and everyday struggles that unfolded in our own backyards.

Barbara will be teaching the following classes this Fall:

• Rye Playland Park, Fri, 9/25, 10:30 am
• Westchester’s Holiday Image Makers, Mon, 12/07, 5:30 pm

**Unless otherwise specified, to be eligible for a free class during our Open House, you may only register for a class with an instructor you have not taken before.** Exception: This class is open to everyone, regardless of whether you've taken classes with the instructor before. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

The festive topic of brewing and beer in the Middle Ages has an unexpected source: the monasteries. In this lecture, we will look at the medieval process of brewing, the social aspects of beer, and the adroit monks and nuns who took charge of an unlikely industry--even to this very day. For students who would like to pre-purchase and sample some medieval-style beers, here is a list of the brews that fall into the categories discussed in this lecture.

Dr. Christine Axen will be teaching the following classes this fall:

• HHH: History’s Graffiti (ZOOM), Wed, 9/30
• HHH:  Death by Medieval Oddity, Wed, 10/28
• HHH: Tarot–Games & Fortunes from the Renaissance to Today, Wed, 11/18
• HHH: Fake or Fortune? Relic-Related Miracles, Forgeries, and Thefts, Wed, 12/16

A rare, firsthand look inside real mass‑fatality operations, drawn from direct experience with the World Trade Center recovery, the American Airlines Flight 587 plane crash, and the COVID‑19 pandemic response. This session offers a clear, respectful overview of how large‑scale identification efforts are organized, how agencies coordinate under extreme pressure, and how science and compassion guide the work when communities face profound loss.

How did this young man, born and raised in the confined area of the Pale in the Baltic area of Russia, become such a citizen of the world? Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was a seminal Russian-French artist known for his vibrant, dreamlike paintings that blended modernism with Eastern European Jewish folklore. His works tend towards the whimsical, with a deeply personal style characterized by floating figures, vibrant colors, and nostalgic village scenes, and are known, admired, and loved by many. Who influenced him and what experiences shaped his worldview? We will discuss these themes and delight in his art, including his stained glass windows at the nearby Union Church of Pocantico Hills.

The Zodiac is one of the oldest and most recognizable features of the night sky. Long before modern astronomy, ancient civilizations looked to these twelve constellations—the famous “Circle of Animals”—to mark the seasons, track the motions of the sun, moon, and planets, and make sense of their place in the cosmos.

In this fascinating journey through science, history, and mythology, discover how the Zodiac became central to cultures around the world and why these constellations remain important today. Learn how ancient Babylonian astronomers first mapped the Zodiac along the path we now call the ecliptic, explore the close relationship between astronomy and astrology in the ancient world, and uncover surprising mysteries—including whether the Zodiac once had only eleven constellations and why some astronomers argue there are now thirteen. Join us as we trace the ancient and modern significance of the constellations that continue to captivate humanity's imagination.

For more than 125 years, movies have shaped the way we dream, remember, argue, laugh, love, and see the world. This 6-week series offers a sweeping, entertaining, and accessible journey through the history of film, exploring the first half of cinema's remarkable story—from the pioneering silent films of the late 1800s through the groundbreaking movies and cultural shifts of the mid-20th century. (A second 6-week series, offered in the winter term, will continue the journey from the 1960s to the streaming age of the 2020s.)

Each week will explore a different era in movie history, and in Part 1 this fall, we will cover the birth of the motion picture, the rise of Hollywood, the glamour of the silent era, the arrival of sound, the golden age of the studio system, film noir, and postwar cinema. Along the way, we will look at legendary stars, groundbreaking directors, unforgettable scenes, major technological shifts, and the cultural moments that made each decade distinct through clips and class discussions.

Whether you are a lifelong film lover or simply curious about how cinema became cinema, this series will give you a richer understanding of the movies you already love and introduce you to many more worth discovering.

For a look at the weekly lecture topics, please click here.

Get backstage access to the world-renowned organizations that call this 16.3-acre campus home, and learn more about the history of Lincoln Center. This 75-minute tour provides a behind-the-scenes perspective of the past and present of Lincoln Center. Participants will learn about Lincoln Center’s history; explore the iconic arts organizations that call Lincoln Center home; and experience our vibrant campus the way only artists and staff do. The tour itinerary will be based on availability and the day’s activities at the Center, and typical stops include:

• New York Philharmonic (David Geffen Hall)
• The Metropolitan Opera (Met Opera House)
• New York City Ballet (David H. Koch Theater)
• Lincoln Center Theater (Vivian Beaumont Theater)
• Chamber Music Society (Alice Tully Hall)
• Film at Lincoln Center (Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center)
• Lincoln Center Campus Public Areas (Josie Robertson Plaza, Damrosch Park, and Hearst Plaza)

Experience the breathtaking beauty of our lavish plantings on this 90-minute tour which will take you to the most stunning flowers and gorgeous plants in the gardens. In the summer, lush foliage will transport you to a world of tranquility.

Throughout this horticulture and historical tour of Untermyer Gardens, you will learn about its rich history and the seasonal beauty of the grounds. We will discuss monumental architecture -- with an emphasis on Samuel Untermyer and his wife Minnie, and their place in early 20th century history -- as well as elements of garden design in general, plants in bloom, and stunning plant combinations.

The tour will also take you through the estate's three owners, emphasizing its world-famous heyday during the Untermyer years, its decline after 1940, and the remarkable restoration efforts that have been ongoing from 2011 to the present day.

So, come join us for an educational and engaging tour that is sure to leave you with a newfound appreciation for this magnificent estate.

If it's Congress that makes the laws, why are presidential executive orders now more important than ever? In this lecture, Jess Velona explores how we've arrived at this spot. We'll consider some of the most famous, and infamous, executive orders in our history, from the Emancipation Proclamation, FDR's internment of Japanese Americans and Truman's seizure of steel mills to LBJ's affirmative action. Next, we'll address the many controversial new Trump executive orders, from tariffs and immigration to mass layoffs of federal workers and punishing law firms. Finally, Jess will address the legal and judicial pushback that has emerged, and how Congress should also reclaim its power by writing laws that limit presidential discretion.

From a lord’s horse tripping over a pig to a pope choking on a fly, medieval deaths often make it into the manuscript record because of sheer weirdness. This lecture will examine some of the remarkable accounts of medieval people encountering their ends in curious and shocking ways. How did these odd deaths occur, how were they interpreted by contemporaries, and what do they mean for our understanding of medieval history? Just in time for Halloween, join us as we explore some of the stranger ways that medieval people shuffled off this mortal coil.

A focused look at two nationally followed cases—the Idaho Student Murders and the death of Officer John O’Keefe/the Karen Read case—to show how modern forensic science works in real investigations. Participants explore disciplines used in both investigations, including DNA, digital evidence, toxicology, trace evidence, and scene reconstruction, to learn how scientific findings shape investigative conclusions—and why those conclusions are sometimes contested.

Senator and social scientist, New Dealer and neoconservative, and the only man to serve in high posts for four consecutive presidents - Daniel Patrick Moynihan had a storied and yet controversial public career. In this lecture, Jess Velona, who helped run Moynihan's Senate office in New York City and later briefly lived with Moynihan in his Washington home, will mix personal memories with an account of Moynihan's significant impact on American politics. Jess will show how the same man who stirred outrage in the 1960's for the Moynihan Report labeling the black family "a tangle of pathology" later persuaded Richard Nixon to propose a guaranteed minimum income for all Americans; how his defiant stand in support of Israel and democratic values at the U.N. helped propel him to the U.S. Senate; and how in the 1980s he returned to his New Deal roots and became a fierce critic of the excesses of the Reagan era. Through it all, he kept thinking and publishing, leading another Senator to tell Jess, "Senator Moynihan has written more books than most Senators have read."

Come explore the old and the new at South Street Seaport, featuring the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city, and the Pier 17 entertainment center. Ginny will guide you through the evolution of the neighborhood with stops at the 18th- and 19th-century buildings, sharing stories and vintage photographs of a bustling commercial district, ending with spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Originally invented as a card game, the tarot deck has long since transformed into an allegorical, otherworldly way of reading and interpreting circumstances and souls. Join us as we learn some games, explore central arcana figures like the Fool and the High Priestess, and adore the beauty of the earliest surviving hand-painted cards from the courts of Renaissance Italy!

Discover the life, music, and lasting legacy of the true architect of rock and roll. We will explore how Chuck Berry fused country, blues, and rhythm and blues music to create the definitive sound of a generation. Through vintage performance clips and audio recordings, we will trace his journey from a St. Louis cosmetology student to a global superstar. Learn the stories behind timeless anthems like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Maybellene," analyze his iconic "duckwalk" showmanship, and examine how his innovative guitar riffs shaped the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and everyone who followed.

Although the American celebration of Christmas blends traditions rooted in ancient times and Euro-Asian lands, it wasn’t declared a federal holiday until 1870. The American holiday season as we now know it evolved during the 19th and early 20th century, largely due to works of authors, artists and songwriters – the majority of whom had distinct ties to Westchester County. This program traces the evolution of the traditions while introducing the Westchester holiday “image makers” and their impact on the holiday observances. A sampler of celebrations at Westchester’s historic sites will also be highlighted.

Have you ever dreamed of experiencing the festive atmosphere of European Christmas markets? Save the airfare! Instead, we invite you to join Nancy as she shares her first-hand knowledge of delightful pre-Christmas traditions in German-speaking countries. Come taste a sampling of traditional Christmas market foods and learn about the artisanal wooden and glass decorations sold at the markets. Practice the German names for these specialties and a few basic German phrases to have in your back pocket if you go to a Christmas market.

No knowledge of German is necessary for this class.

We’ve looked at the lavish containers that held the relic bones of medieval saints, but this lecture will explore the ideas behind these holy objects. From reformer John Calvin’s quip that the Virgin Mary lactated more than a cow since since so much of her “authentic” holy breast milk survived, to the dream appearance of one saint asking to be stolen from her current shrine, to the repurposing of executed criminals’ remains to bring renown to a local church, medieval relics captivate and challenge our conception of the holy in the Middle Ages. Join us as we admire the stunning gilded and gem-encrusted containers that enclose relics, and learn the equally fascinating stories behind manifested miracles, occasionally dubious origins, and mysterious heists.

Although historians enjoy a world of beautifully curated manuscripts, sometimes the “garbage” of the past tells us more about the people who lived then. This lecture will explore discovered graffiti from the ancient and medieval past to get a glimpse of daily life as it was recorded on public walls, outhouses, and even church balconies. Join us as we track these unofficial recorders of history through humorous, lewd, and enigmatic graffiti markings.