A new exhibition at the New-York Historical Society, titled Lost New York, examines how forces of change have reshaped the city over centuries. The show brings to light landmarks, practices and communities that have been integral to New York's formation but are largely forgotten today.
Comprising nearly 100 historical pieces, the exhibition covers everything from packs of trash-eating pigs that once roamed the streets to the grand Beaux-Arts Penn Station. Curator Wendy Nālani E Ikemoto said the exhibition is not just about disappearance but also about recovery and finding resonance with the contemporary city.
One highlight is the painting No 7 1/2 Bowery, which shows a pig in the foreground. In the 1820s, about 20,000 pigs roamed New York, serving as a form of garbage management and food security for lower-income residents. However, they were also considered a nuisance, and their removal led to rising property values and the displacement of working-class communities—a process Ikemoto likens to modern gentrification.
The exhibition also integrates diverse voices from communities including Chinese, LGBTQ+ and Black New Yorkers, underscoring the many layers of the city's past. Lost New York runs at the New-York Historical Society.
