N.Y. Today: Explore New York City’s Layered Histories for the 250th Anniversary of the U.S.

July 26, 2026

An illustration of horse drawn carriages on a road in Manhattan.

A Kalner

Explore New York City’s Layered Histories for the 250th Anniversary of the U.S.

The New York Times on Saturday hosted an in-person search for places that hold centuries of the city’s history. Here’s what you need to explore those spots on your own.

By Anna Kodé

Andrew Kiguel stands in a convention booth next to a seated female humanoid robot with long black hair and wearing a black dress. Two people stand behind them, under a sign that says “Robots With a Human Touch.”

Sally the Robot Was Coming to a New York School. Then the Plug Was Pulled.

Students helped design the A.I.-powered creation as a young female with dark hair and an upbeat personality. Then came the outrage.

By Matthew Haag

A man places his right hand over his heart as he talks to a van driver through a rolled-down window.

Uber and Lyft Dominate the Ride-Share Industry. Can Rivals Cut In?

Companies offering for-hire vehicles via apps are hoping to make inroads in New York City with driver-friendly overtures. Others have tried and failed.

By Stefanos Chen

He Wanted to Be John Travolta. Instead, He Became ‘Kaves.’

As a child, Michael McLeer wanted to be like John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever” and escape Brooklyn. A tragedy in the neighborhood changed his mind.

By Abby Ellin and Lanna Apisukh

Raised hands, shown in blurred silhouette, in the stands of a soccer stadium with the field far below.

The World Cup in New York and New Jersey, by the Numbers

The World Cup brought hordes of soccer fans to town, and locals flocked to watch parties. But did the games deliver on promises of an economic boon?

By Emma G. Fitzsimmons, David Waldstein and Stefanos Chen

Two women, one holding a Dominican flag, look forlorn in a crowded, dimly lit room.

Black and Latino Leaders Ask: What Do Socialist Wins Mean for New York?

Longtime leaders and advocates in minority districts fear that victories by the Democratic Socialists of America in gentrifying neighborhoods could mean political erasure.

By Jeffery C. Mays

Affording New York

How a Security Guard Lives on $46,000 a Year in the East Bronx

Maruf Abubakari Sadick works two security jobs to pay for rent, cologne and sheep to help feed his parents in Ghana.

By Maria Cramer

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