named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Historic Posts
Geotagged entries documenting individual buildings, monuments, and public spaces with historical context and imagery
Urban Stories
Curated narratives exploring the environmental, cultural, and social history of New York City neighborhoods and landmarks
Walking Tours
Thematic self-guided walks highlighting architectural and historical sites such as bridges, cemeteries, and historic districts
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Historic Site Designation Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocates for historic preservation through landmark designationSupports the protection of historically significant buildings through advocacy efforts reflected in landmark designations, such as the 1967 Individual Landmark status and listings on the State and National Register of Historic Places.
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Offers guided historical walks in New York City parksProvides guided walks through Prospect Park, highlighting picturesque landscapes, historic arches, landmarked bridges, and boulder spans as part of public-facing educational programming.
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Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Operates a digital archive of New York City's historical assetsMaintains a digital archive containing 108,845 historical assets, 6,663 posts, 12 lists, 726 stories, and 97 curated walks focused on New York City's urban history and built environment.
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Used Book and Media Sales for Fundraising 1 activity
- Operates or has operated significant cultural and civic spacesOperated the first Carnegie-funded branch of the New York Public Library (opened 1902), hosted the Manic-Panic store and Ray’s Occult Books featured in Ghostbusters, and provided space for cultural figures including poets Anne Waldman and Lewis Warsh (1966–1969).
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Preserves and restores historic buildings and structuresUndertakes restoration of historic buildings such as the A. A. Low Building by removing stucco and paint layers from the brownstone exterior, and documents architectural changes to structures like the row house at 33 St. Mark’s Place.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Documents architectural and infrastructural history of New York CityConducts research documenting the architectural evolution of NYC buildings, including construction timelines, design details, zoning law impacts, and engineering milestones such as the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge completion in 1964 and its structural specifications.
- Documents ecological and environmental changes in urban spacesTracks ecological developments including monk parrot populations at Green-Wood Cemetery, lead contamination at Red Hook Play Center, illegal sewage discharge into Coney Island Creek, and debris accumulation at Dead Horse Bay.
- Records historical use and transformation of civic and industrial sitesDocuments the history and decommissioning of public buildings such as the 60th Precinct and Coney Island Magistrates Court, the closure of the Casino Theatre, and industrial sites including the Domino Sugar Refinery, Gowanus Canal, and Dead Horse Bay.
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financials · form 990PF · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$233K
Contributions & grants$151K65%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$880%
Other revenue$692
expenses
Total expenses$211K
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$48K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$44K
Cash$27K
Investments$32K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$44K
Liquid reserves3.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -6.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENJAMIN SMYTH | DIRECTOR | 25 | $48K |
board members · 2
- ELIOT NOLEN — DIRECTOR
- TIMOTHY BRADLEY — DIRECTOR
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Atlas Obscura Partner — Cited source for description of current conditions at Dead Horse Bay.
- Brooklyn Daily Eagle Partner — Source of 1954 photograph from fishing contest at Prospect Park Lake.
- Carnegie Hill Historic District Extension Network — Designated historic district that includes 128 East 93rd Street.
- Environmental Protection Agency Government — Agency that classified the Red Hook Play Center area as a brownfield site.
- MoMA PS1 Partner — Collaborates on historical content related to MoMA PS1 in New York City.
- Museum of the City of New York Partner — Collaborates with the Museum of the City of New York to present historical documentation of New York City architecture.
- New York Public Library Partner — Carnegie-funded branch library within the NYPL system.
- New York Times Partner — Cited source for post-Hurricane Sandy analysis of coastal housing vulnerability.
- Rose family Funder — Provided private funding for the interior renovation of the Yorkville Branch in the late 1980s.
- South Street Seaport Museum Government — Owner of the A. A. Low Building, which is documented by Urban Archive.
- St. Mark's Church Partner — Associated with the Poetry Project community centered at St. Mark's Church, where Anne Waldman held leadership roles.
- Trinity Church Partner — Subject of documentation and historical preservation efforts.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Architectural Documentation to Reveal Historical Transformationmethodology: visual-documentation-of-architectural-detailsBy visually and textually documenting architectural details and design responses to regulation, we reveal patterns of urban evolution because close analysis of built-form changes makes visible the interplay between policy, innovation, and historical context in shaping cities.
- Curiosity-Driven Storytelling to Engage Public Interest in Urban Historymethodology: curiosity-driven urban storytellingBy framing urban history through unexpected narratives—such as wildlife or rooftop projections—we increase public engagement because sparking curiosity with unusual entry points makes complex historical and ecological themes more accessible and memorable.
- Historical Documentation as Urban Memory Preservationmethodology: urban-historical-documentationBy systematically documenting municipal buildings, infrastructure milestones, and architectural details, we preserve the collective urban memory of New York City because tangible historical records enable public understanding of how physical and civic environments have evolved over time.