Lower East Side History Project (leshp.org) is going into our 20th year in 2023. I am very proud of everything we have accomplished and I thank you for your support.
Over this short time, we have opened/founded:
- East Village Visitor’s Center
- Bowery Cultural Center
- Museum of the American Gangster
- Lower East Side Welcome Center
We have also:
- Given thousands of walking tours
- Dozens of lectures
- Wrote programs for countless schools and universities
- Consulted and appeared in several movies and TV shows
- Published seven local history books
- Wrote dozens of articles and countless blog posts
- Taught several classes at local schools and universities
- Dug up absolutely forgotten and never-heard-before history
- Won several awards
- Provided content for Windows on the Bowery
- Participated in several land marking and preservation efforts
- Created displays for Essex Street Market, Wholefoods, Kosars Bagels, NYC Parks Department, and other institutions
- What am I missing? A lot.
This is all quite an accomplishment, I must say, as humbly as possible, as a fourth-generation Lower East Sider (and my son a fifth). This mission started as an exploration and dedication to both sides of my family, who struggled here for 150 years as laborers, truck drivers, factory workers, dock workers, cops, superintendents, junkies, street hustlers and street brawlers — who literally bled on these streets and suffered in these tenements — staring at the walls and staring out of windows praying for a better life, and a miracle, to just pay rent or put food on the table — fighting for their lives for a way out of a true ghetto. Everyone who lives here now stands on their shoulders… Myself included.
It all started in 2001, when I took interest in researching my own family history after witnessing 9/11, and contemplating my relationship to the city I was born in and love. That year, I started “Biggest Apple Media,” which morphed into “East Village Community Media,” then “East Village History Project,” until finally, in 2003, settling down with “Lower East Side History Project.” I was fortunate enough to connect with people much more knowledgeable than myself, and the whole project just grew very organically.
I thank everyone who ever contributed for their support over the years, and look forward to 20 more years, with special thanks going out to: Rob Hollander, David Bellel, Anthony Donovan, Seth Abrams, Andrea Coyle, Mike Zwack, Cary Abrams, David Mulkins, Mitchel Grubler, Michele Campos, Jean Standish, Bill Millard, David Hoffman, Bob Holman, Gary Glazner, Bowery Poetry Club, Jacob Goldman, Elissa Sampson, Nina Howes, Shell Sheddy, Shirley Duglinski , Ina Reuss, Fourth Arts Block, GVSHP, LES Jewish Conservancy, NY Historical Society, Merchant’s House Museum, Tenement Museum, Historic District Council, Dr. Scelsa and the Italian American Museum, Municipal Art Society, Al Orensanz and the Angel Orensanz Foundation, — among many, many others. Way too many to list here. Thank you for believing in and contributing to the mission.
Thank you again, and I wish you all much love and success in 2023!
Eric Ferrara
Founder,
Lower East Side History Project
Eric is a 4th generation Lower East Sider, professional NYC history author, movie & TV consultant, and founder of Lower East Side History Project.