The Occupied City: New York and the American Revolution

FAIN: GI-307336-26

Museum of the City of New York, Inc. (New York, NY 10029-5221)
Sarah M. Henry (Project Director: January 2025 to June 2026)
Elisabeth F. Sherman (Project Director: June 2026 to present)

Implementation of a temporary, single-site exhibition exploring the experience of New York City under British occupation during the American Revolution.

The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) will present a major multi-gallery exhibition, The Occupied City: New York and the American Revolution, in partnership with the Gotham Center for NYC History at CUNY. Opening April 10, 2026, this project will mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence. The exhibition and accompanying programs will examine New York City's role in the Revolutionary War through 1) place-based connections that bring New Yorkers closer to history through familiar city locations; 2) experiential learning that engages intergenerational audiences; and 3) a character-driven approach that highlights perspectives from people of different backgrounds. Combining scholarship, objects, and interactive experiences, The Occupied City will invite visitors—including New Yorkers, tourists, and NYC students and educators—to consider the profound impact of the war on the city’s inhabitants and how they, in turn, contributed to shaping revolutionary America.