2025 Past Programs
JANUARY
On YouTube!
Celebrating New Year’s Day 2025 with the Tredwells
Paying social calls on friends and family on the first day of the new year was one of Old New York’s most cherished customs. Join us – virtually – for good cheer to toast the New Year and learn how New Yorkers like the Tredwells celebrated the day.
In this immersive video experience, we’ll go back in time to the mid-19th century to meet the Tredwells and hear how they’ve been decking the house for New Year’s Day and preparing their lists of social calls. Join us as we continue the 19th century tradition of renewing, reviving, and reaffirming friendships that last the whole year through. Watch on YouTube.
Wednesday, January 22, 6:30 p.m.
Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing
Book Talk with Elizabeth L. Brock
Co-Sponsored by Salmagundi Club, Coffee House Club, Village Preservation, and Victorian Society NY
In the 19th century, the complex cultural meaning of hair was not only significant – it could affect one’s place in society. After the Civil War, hairdressing was a growing profession and the hair industry a mainstay of local, national, and international commerce. In Beyond Vanity, Elizabeth L. Block expands the nascent field of hair studies by restoring women’s hair as a cultural site of meaning in the early United States. With a special focus on the places and spaces in which the industry operated, Block argues that the importance of hair has been overlooked due to its ephemerality as well as its misguided association with frivolity and triviality. As Block clarifies, hairdressing was anything but frivolous. Free, registration required. Event Location: Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Avenue.
FEBRUARY
Saturday, February 1, 3 p.m.
“Where Shadows Linger:” An Afternoon Ghost Tour
On this afternoon tour, we’ll explore some of the spookiest true tales of ghostly sightings at the Merchant’s House, as well as highlights from our ongoing research into strange and supernatural occurrences at the house. We’ll also test out some newly-built handheld paranormal sensors, and discover why The New York Times calls us “Manhattan’s Most Haunted House.” 60 minutes, strictly limited capacity. $20; $10 MHM Members and children ages 8-12. (Children under 8 are not permitted.)
