I visited the Museum of the City of New York on November 20th alongside my peers Bosko and Jayden Pooran. We explored the “NY at Its Core” permanent exhibit and many others, including the Byzantine Bembé, which was incredible. We also visited the ‘URBAN DANGERS’ exhibit, which goes hand in hand with the Watchman’s rattle.

The exhibit description mentions NYC’s vast expansion in population numbers; in about 70 years, it more than quadrupled. Crowding in such limited areas—as the city was confined to what we know today as Lower Manhattan—brought risks of fire and the rapid spread of disease. In 1776, a Revolutionary War fire destroyed 25% of the city’s buildings. Yellow fever and smallpox epidemics plagued the city, forcing those remaining to retreat to healthier rural areas such as Greenwich Village and the Bronx. Eighteenth and nineteenth-century firemen and watchmen used a device known as the Watchman’s rattle to help alert citizens to fires breaking out. When the rattle was swung in a circle, it made a very loud clacking sound that alerted everybody. Because the entire city was built of wood, it was highly susceptible to fires. It was also prone to epidemics because of poor sanitation and overpopulation in such a limited area. The people of New York formed volunteer fire companies and other public health efforts to combat fires and address sanitation.

I found this exhibit interesting because I’ve always been fascinated by the public health of communities. It reminded me of the Black Death centuries before in Europe, and it really made me feel in tune with the struggles New Yorkers were facing. With a growing economy, exponentially rising population, breakthroughs in innovation, and our state having a great history in the American Revolution, New York was born to be special and was on this path at that time. However, hardships like these were setbacks for tens of thousands of people and families who lost loved ones. These exhibits helped me resonate with the people of the city; I felt what many went through, saw the unique-looking watchman’s rattle, and thought about other ways New Yorkers confronted similar problems. I love how it’s always been our state’s God-given ability to unite during times of adversity and prevail. NYC was born with that winning spirit, and just as we did during times of crisis like 9/11 and various wars, we always come out on top. I really picked up this broader theme of just how integral community has been to the city and how we’ve always had plans to maintain order and safety. To the left of the watchman’s rattle is a certificate of appointment as a New York watchman- People like these were very brave for their efforts to stop fires and entering people’s homes in a time where disease ran rampant.

Overall, I enjoyed my time at the museum. It was nice exploring the city’s history, whether the civil rights movement and protests for African American equality, sets from diverse craftsmen, the history of Central Park, or other forms of art. It wasn’t my favorite museum that I ever visited, but I still had an overall positive experience. I believe the layout could have been nicer, and it would have made me want to stay longer.