Walking New York : Manhattan History on Foot

In Walking New York, Harlem local Keith Taillon invites you to join him on 12 of his most popular walking tour routes, examining in depth the various neighborhoods of Manhattan, their history, and the intricacies of their formation.

He traces the evolution of the Big Apple back to some of its early seeds, focusing on the 19th and 20th centuries—a window in which New York City transformed from a small provincial port town into a global metropolis. Keith covers everything from the completion of the Erie Canal and Croton Aqueduct to some of the notorious characters behind the city’s Gilded Age.

Each chapter features a suggested walking route, with a detailed map and notes on the route’s length and time. Throughout each walk, readers are encouraged to pause and absorb the streetscape. Filled with interesting facts and timelines, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of why the city looks and feels the way it does.

Perfect for tourists, locals and armchair travelers alike, you will see New York in a new way, learning to look up, look around, and appreciate this truly special place anew.