The Skyscraper Museum is devoted to the study of high-rise building, past, present, and future. The Museum explores tall buildings as objects of design, products of technology, sites of construction, investments in real estate, and places of work and residence. This site will look better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.
Heritage
Trails Chronology
The chronology and guide to the Heritage Trails New York (HTNY) Archive is a longer, more detailed account of the organization than its narrative history on this site. The annotated chronology is based primarily on documents in the HTNY Archive, which came from the holdings of its founder, Richard D. Kaplan. An Inventory and Finding Aid to the Archives, housed at The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place, New York NY 10280, follows at the end of the Annotated Chronology below.
The Heritage Trails consisted of four color-coded trails, site markers located at specific historical/architectural places and a map that depicted Downtown Manhattan buildings, the trails and the sites. Richard D. Kaplan founded Heritage Trails New York (HTNY) in 1994 to “promote the history and architecture of Downtown New York City. HTNY was asked to assist in the revitalization of Downtown New York, as part of an overall strategy to make it into a 24-hour neighborhood, attract development, increase tourism, and restore it to a vital and economically viable part of New York City.” HTNY expanded the 17 sites identified in 1976 for a series of Bicentennial markers to 40. Four trails were established along routes that identified significant sites in the history of Lower Manhattan, winding through historic places, past landmarks and architecturally significant buildings to nearly every street of Downtown. All the trails started at Federal Hall, which also served as an interim visitor’s center. HTNY established the trails and provided Site Markers; it provided a way-finding system through the colonial street layout making it easier to get around Downtown; it founded a self-guided and guided Tour program; provided and staffed information kiosks in Downtown. It also integrated the trails into downtown as a new tourist attraction that united the area from a cultural and historical perspective. In 1999 HTNY transferred its assets to the Alliance for Downtown, and the organization unofficially closed in August 2002.
The following is an annotated
chronology of HTNY from the establishment of the precedents, the Bicentennial
Trails in 1976; the founding of HTNY in 1994; the handover of HTNY assets to
the Downtown Alliance in 1999-2001, and the dissolution of the Heritage Trails organization
in 2002.
(1)
1976—
Precedents to the 1995 Heritage Trails
PDC
Exhibition File 4153-C
In 1976 the Mayor’s Office of Lower
Manhattan submitted a proposal to the Art Commission of the City of New York,
the city agency charged with design approval over all city-owned property for a
Heritage Trail: a self-guided tour of the sites of important historic events
associated with the heritage of the City and of Lower Manhattan. The proposal
consisted of a trailblazer sign, which displayed the symbol to guide tourists
along the trail and a marker sign, which was a self-contained display stanchion
with images and text pertaining to each site. The system was designed by Samuel Lebowitz Design & Planning and funded by the American
Express Foundation. The 17 Marker Signs, which were free-standing or attached
to a fence or building wall were welded aluminum structural frames with flush
riveted extruded aluminum ribbed skins finished dark bronze with an information
sign with a dark bronze background, bright bronze text and illustrations and a
silk screened HT symbol. The Art Commission gave the project a final approval
on May 10, 1976.
The original sites were: Civic Center; Printing
House Square; City Hall; Woolworth Building; St. Paul’s Church; Trinity Church;
Custom House; Battery Park; Harbor Islands (Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty); State
Street Row/ Ferry Sites; Fraunces Tavern/ Fraunces Tavern Block; India House/Hanover Square; New York
Stock Exchange/Federal Hall; Bank of New York/Citibank; Federal Reserve
Bank/Chamber of Commerce; John Street Methodist Church; South Street
Seaport/Brooklyn Bridge
1994-96—Planning
and Implementation
In 1994 Richard D. Kaplan establishes
Heritage Trails New York (HTNY), hires Nadine Peyser
as Project Coordinator, Chermayeff & Geismar as graphic designers and Stephan Van Dam to create
the map. The opening ceremony for Heritage Trails took place on June 27, 1995 at
Federal Hall with 40-page tour booklet, colored dots on streets to mark 4
trails, tour guides known as “Trailblazers” at Battery Park, World Trade
Center, South Street Seaport and Federal Hall, and a Heritage Hub and Visitors
Center on the interior of Federal Hall. One prototype TrailMarker
was installed at J. P. Morgan. This was the first phase of a two phase project,
with the second phase (starting in 1997) being the installation of the markers.
June
13, 1994 2016.01.02.02.p Meeting of The Friends
of Heritage Trails. Goals:
-
Expand, upgrade and revitalize the
historic trails
-
Include themes ranging from archeology
to architecture, from Indian walking paths to African burial grounds, from
finance to capitalism
(2) July 7 1994
2016.01.02.02.i Notes on a walking tour of Heritage Trails with RPA and LPC
(3) July
7 1994
2016.01.02.02.k Ivan Chermayeff to Richard Kaplan, can provide report with
design concepts by mid-October.
July
13 1994
2016.01.02.02.p RK to board, J. M.
Kaplan Fund.
Downtown Lower
Manhattan Project – developing 2 projects: “The first is the Heritage
Trail which was established in 1976 to commemorate the Bicentennial Year. The
trail is a walking tour of historic sites which stretches 3 miles long and
includes 17 sites. We would like to see a redesign of the overall trailmarkers as well as a more visible connecting path. The
project will seek to raise funds and seek sponsorship of the project costs; to
work with a design team to create a permanent Heritage Trail; and to move the
project through the necessary approval and permit process. Furthermore, the
goal is to coordinate these efforts with the Business Improvement District
which will be in place by January 1995 and will be instrumental in the
marketing and maintenance of the Heritage Trail.” Engaged Nadine Peyser to be project coordinator and to work full time on
this project
July
15, 1994 2016.01.02.02.v George Calderaro, LPC to Nadine Peyser. In response to our tour last week has
suggestions. Doesn’t think a painted line would work, but rather markers, a
reduced map of the entire route should be included on each markers as well, perhaps
on the side of the marker, LPC building at 100 Old Slip should be included, we
should also add the archaeological sites discussed.
July
15 1994 2016.01.02.02 Draft memo –
expansion of markers – started to research & collect info on
additional sites – held meetings with Regional Plan Association,
Landmarks Preservation Commission, Municipal Art Society, Downtown Lower
Manhattan Association, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, City Planning
Commission, Department of Transportation – created a preliminary mapping
– spoken to local designers about ideas for a more visible and contiguous
walking trails – spoken to legal department of DOT about installation
– generating a list of building owners – been in touch with Art
Commission.
Undated
(probably early July 1994) 2016.01.02.02.m Memo sketching out 4 phases of
project:
-
Phase I- design ideas (Ivan Chermayeff); costs levels; costs for maintenance; mapping
of existing and proposed trail markers; list of building owners and addresses;
workshop meeting with downtown people for suggestions; presentations; school
contest for additional sites?; retrieval of original
text for Heritage Trail Markers; cost out new research text for additional site
markers.
-
Phase IIa-
permissions from Art Commission and other city agencies; legal aspects;
presentations.
-
Phase IIb-
proposal for sponsorship of the project; grant programs dealing with tourism
related projects; corporate sponsorship for underwriting the publishing of the
brochure; will need a designated fund to collect contributions.
-
Phase III – implementation;
distribution of materials; marketing and promotion; educational use –
Board of Education; opening ceremony
July
19 1994 2016.01.02.02.y Memo Nadine to Richard
“Proposed Heritage Trail – Draft”
May 1976 Art Commission gives final
approval to the Friends of Heritage Trails for markers. The original sites are:
Civic Center; Printing House Square; City Hall; Woolworth Building; St. Paul’s
Church; Trinity Church; Custom House; Battery Park; Harbor Islands (Ellis
Island, Statue of Liberty; State Street Row/ Ferry Sites; Fraunces
Tavern/ Fraunces Tavern Block; India House/Hanover
Square; New York Stock Exchange/Federal Hall; Bank of New York/Citibank; Federal
Reserve Bank/Chamber of Commerce; John Street Methodist Church; South Street
Seaport/Brooklyn Bridge
Proposed sites: African Burial Ground; World
Trade Center; World Financial Center; Greek Orthodox Church (does not become a
physical marker); Museum of American Financial History; National Museum of the
American Indian (Custom House already listed as an existing marker); Battery
Park/Korean War Memorial and Merchant Seamen’s Institute; 17 State Street/New
York Unearthed; Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Park; 100 Old Slip, 1st
Police Precinct; Barclay Bank International, 160 Water Street; South Street
Seaport; The great skyscrapers: 40 Wall, 48 Wall, 70 Pine, 55 Liberty, 16 Wall
July
19 1994 2016.01.02.02.bb RK to Robert R.
Douglass (DLMA)
HT – developing new unifying
theme and/or mission statement
-
Ways to expand, upgrade and revitalize
the trail – expand markers & topics
-
Starting research & collect
information about additional sites
-
Met with Fred Davis ED of Freedom Trail
in Boston
-
Created preliminary mapping of proposed
extensions – talking to local designers & legal at DOT, generating
list of building owners
-
Met with Art Commission
-
Looking into CD-ROM
Feb
2 1995 2016.01.02.05.a Certificate of
Incorporation HT
These are the scanned art commission
documents 5789 A-E:
April-May 1995, HTNY presents designs
for the site markers and dots to the Art Commission of the City of New York
(now Public Design Commission). The commission gave final approval in part May
8, 1995, and HTNY presented revised plans (based on the Phase 1 two year study)
in 1997 which received final approval. HTNY wrote to
ask to come before the commission in the fall of 1999, which did not happen. In
the exhibitions submitted to the commission the trails consist of:
Red Trail
St. Paul’s
Woolworth Building
City Hall
African Burial
Ground
Foley Square
Brooklyn Bridge
Civic
Center/Printing House Square
Blue
Chase Manhattan
Plaza
Federal Reserve
Bank
South Street
Seaport
Pier 17
John Street
Methodist Church
Chamber of
Commerce/55 Liberty Street
Green
New York Stock
Exchange and Federal Hall
Trinity Church
Museum of American
Financial History
Bowling Green/ U.
S. Custom House Museum of the American Indian
Battery Park and
Castle Clinton
Pier A and Harbor
Visitor’s Center
Harbor Islands
New York Unearthed
State Street Row
and Ferry Sites
Fraunces
Tavern
Vietnam War
Veterans Memorial
India House and Hanover
Square
First Police
Precinct
Barclays Bank
Archeology
Great Skyscrapers:
1, 14, 40, 48 and 55 Wall Street and 70 Pine Street
Yellow [orange]
World Trade Center
World Financial
Center
Greek Orthodox
Church
Opening
Ceremonies
June
26 1995 2016.01.02.11.1 Draft remarks opening
ceremonies. Heritage Trails more than walking tours they are:
-
looking to the past to represent the
symbolic footsteps of 400 years of New York’s multi-cultural history
-
looking to the future they are intended
to re-awaken the public’s awareness of the greatest wonders of Downtown New
York
-
System of interconnected Heritage
Trails will create a more user-friendly pedestrian environment and when
coordinated with proposed new bus loops and ferry connections the Trails will
help bring together Downtown’s already great tourist attractions: Battery Park,
Statue of Liberty & Harbor Islands, World Trade Center, City Hall, South
Street Seaport, Wall Street and New York Stock Exchange and help overcome the
fallacy of the one-site visit.
-
Not new, Boston Freedom Trails and in
1976 American Express created The Heritage Trail for the Bi-Centennial
-
Dots, trail book, 1st phase
-
Important part the site markers,
unveiling the 1st site marker in front of Morgan Guaranty Bank
Building
-
Trail Blazers in HT uniforms at Battery
Park, World Trade Center, South Street Seaport and Federal Hall
-
Set up Heritage Trails hub and visitors
center at Federal Hall
Undated
2016.01.02.11.a Opening Ceremonies Speech Outline
The
Heritage Trails are more than just walking tours: Looking to the past, they
represent the symbolic footsteps of 400 years of New York’s multi-cultural
history. Looking to the future, they are intended to re-awaken the public’s
awareness of the greatness of Downtown New York
System of
interconnected Heritage Trails will create a more user-friendly pedestrian
environment and when coordinated with proposed new bus loops and ferry
connections the Trails will help bring together Downtown’s already great
tourist attractions: Battery Park, Statue of Liberty & Harbor Islands,
World Trade Center, City Hall, South Street Seaport, Wall Street and New York
Stock Exchange and help overcome the fallacy of the one-site visit.
-
Making historic trails in cities is not
new: Boston’s Freedom Trails, Lower Manhattan Bi-Centennial Heritage Trail.
-
Today the first phase: four
inter-connected Trails each created with differently colored circular markers.
-
Want to evaluate the impact of the
Trails as people try them out. This is the first phase of a two-year
Demonstration Project.
-
Important part will be Site Markers,
containing photos and texts about the specific sites and a newly created Map of
the Trails
-
Have installed first prototype Marker
in front of the Morgan Guaranty Bank building
-
Start Trail Blazer Guides program stationed
at Battery Park, World Trade Center, South Street Seaport and Federal Hall
-
Set up Heritage Hub and Visitor
Information Center in Federal Hall with interactive video presentation that
previews walks along the trails.
June
27 1995 2016.01.02.11.b Invitation to opening ceremony
Press Packet Contents: Heritage Trails
Map, Newsday press clipping, Media
alert/ invitation, invitation letter. Press coverage includes longer
descriptive articles in New York Newsday,
Boston Sunday Globe, Downtown Express, The Record, New York Post, Gannett
Suburban Newspaper and short notices in The
New York Times, La Presse, The Washington Post, Lost
Angeles Times, The Atlanta Journal, The Seattle Times
Heritage Trails Fact Sheet (Tony
Robins): “Heritage Trails New York are the newest way to see all of Downtown
Manhattan. Four Heritage Trails, each delineated by differently colored dots
painted on sidewalks and streets, link 50 of Downtown’s greatest sites and
attractions. The Trails are a distinctive and exciting way for New Yorkers,
tourists and students alike to explore 400 years of New York City history, and
gain access to Downtown’s remarkable sites and activities.
Designed specifically as loops
emanating from a central Heritage Hub and Visitor Information Center (located
this summer at Federal Hall National Memorial, the four Trails have been
created using a total of 2,400 circular markers (the “dots”), six inches in
diameter, spaced mostly at ten-feet apart, and in a different color for each
Trail.
The RED TRAIL goes up Broadway to the
Civic Center, the African Burial Ground and the Brooklyn Bridge;
The BLUE TRAIL links the South Street
Seaport with the center of Downtown;
The GREEN TRAIL ambles through the
canyons of the Financial District and the streets of Dutch New York to Battery
Park, the Custom House and Bowling Green;
The ORANGE TRAIL leads to the great
modern financial towers – the World Trade Center and the World Financial
Center, and from then via Battery Park City to the magnificent esplanade along
the waterfront.
The interconnected Heritage Trails
enable users to create their own walking tours, organizing them not only around
Downtown’s great architecture and historic monuments, but upon many other
specific interest as well, such as the history of world trade and finance, the
evolution of America’s governance, literary New York, and other aspects of the
City’s history.”
June
1995 2016.01.02.03.a 40 page booklet of Heritage
Trails Sites and Trails:
Orange
Eliminates the Greek Orthodox Church
and adds the American Stock Exchange and Battery Park City in comparison with
the Art Commission Proposal
Red
Adds Trinity Church and the Equitable
Building in comparison to the Art Commission Proposa
Blue
Includes the Fulton Fish Market as part
of the Pier 17 site and adds the Seaman’s Church Institute.
Green
Adds J. P. Morgan & Company to the
Federal Hall and New York Stock Exchange site; adds 20 Exchange Place to the
Great Skyscrapers site; adds Dutch City Hall Archeology to the Vietnam Veteran
Memorial site; adds the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Seton and the Staten Island
Ferry to the New York Unearthed site; makes 55 Wall Street a separate site;
combines 100 Old Slip with Hanover Square and India House; creates a new site
for Colonial New York Street Plan and Stone Street; creates a new site for the
Museum of American Financial History and eliminates the Barclays Bank
Archeology site.
Building
the Organization and First Guided Tours
1996
2016.01.02.18.f Press Release: “Heritage Trails New York Names New Executive
Director” (Alexia Lalli)
Dec
2 1996 2016.01.02.12.d Press release: “We Tour for Food”
Related
Projects
March
29 1995 2016.01.02.09.a James Sanders to RK proposal to establish
feasibility of “Global Town Square”, large scale electronic displays
continuously streaming financial information in Liberty Plaza, and to create a
package to further its development
May
11 1995 2016.01.02.09. c James Sanders and Margot Wellington
consultants to undertake a preliminary design and feasibility study tentatively
named “Wall Street Crossing” project, another version of “Global Town Square,”
to be located at Liberty Plaza with proposal
November
9 1995 2016.01.02.09.f Charles H. Hamilton – The J. M.
Kaplan Fund to James Sanders & Margot Wellington, consulting agreement
June
1996 2016.01.02.22.a Proposal by Downtown Heritage Management,
Inc. “The New York Downtown Information Center (DIC)” for 40 Wall Street with
an information desk,, multimedia displays, theater,
café, retail and exhibitions
July
25 1996 2016.01.02.17.a-c Proposal for the creation of a Heritage
Trails web site work plan & costs; analysis of strategic priorities and
solutions; preliminary site architecture by Mind Over Matter
September
1996 2016.01.02.09.p Draft Report Liberty Plaza: The Brain of
Lower Manhattan, a version of “Global Town Square,” by Sanders/Wellington
Associates
1997-1999—
Phase 2: Installation of Site Markers
Phase 2 was to start after the two year
demonstration and evaluation period, and originally included the installation
of the site markers; the construction of a permanent Heritage Trails Hub and
Visitor Information Center, with exhibitions and multi-media activities;
development of audio guides; integration of the Trails into school curricula;
and development of Trails-related events and programs. Of these goals only the
installation of the Site Markers and the development of Trails-related events
and programs occurred. Installation of the Markers started in January 1997 with
the City Hall Marker, by July 1997 at least another 12 Markers were installed,
and by September 1997 a total of 30 Markers were installed.
Jan
9 1997 2016.01.02.12.a Press release: “First of 42 Historic Site Markers
Unveiled in City Hall Park.”
Mentions City Hall, New York
Information Technology Center and Morgan site markers.
July
23 1997 2016.01.02.12.b Press Release: More Historic Site Markers
arriving on Downtown Sidewalks Wednesday July 23. Site Markers include: U. S.
Custom House; Museum of Financial History; 55 Wall Street and 22 Exchange
Place; Federal Hall; Battery Park and Castle Clinton; Chase; Federal Reserve;
African Burial Ground; St. Paul’s; Fraunces Tavern;
Brooklyn Bridge; Trinity Church
Sept
22 1997 2016.01.02.25.a Heritage Trails talk
slide show notes
-
1st Show “Heritage Tourism
starts with the Question: What is this Place?”
o
Downtown NY one square mile of most
intensive city building in history
o
Downtown NY first modern city
o
Heritage Trails starts with a map,
added Trails (dots on Street), adding Site Markers
-
Downtown already visited by 5-10
million people each year. The Downtown sites part of national, the world’s
collective conscience
Undated
2016.01.02.25.b 2nd— Slide Show Notes for
Nadine Peyser: “Bringing Tourism into Historic
Neighborhoods”
56
historical sites and attractions packed into 1 ½ square miles, greatest
access to harbor, 5 global attractions
-
HTNY established on the heels of BID
being formed (Downtown in bad shape)
-
October 1994 Tax Incentive Plan;
emerging mixed use 24/7 neighborhood; 2,500 units being converted from office
space, 7,000 planned for 2002; working on residential amenities; major
initiative of BID provide tourism and visitor services; HTNY provides service
to downtown business community objective to get people to stay downtown longer;
competition 33 million visitors to NYC
-
Trails: 4 color coded trails, dots, 30
site markers in the ground; interpretative panels: image/text – Scotchprint, Chermayeff & Geismar, cast iron kit of parts
-
Approval process over 40/50
presentations to city, community, business
-
Major leadership from Deputy Mayor for
Planning – Fran Reiter
-
High Season May-October
-
Self-guided Trails Map and Guidebook
over last 3 years gave over 350,000 free maps away. In 1998 started selling for
$1.
-
Professionally guided theme tours, in
1996 had 233 paid tours, in 1997 had 3,000, in 1998 plan to double number
-
Street kiosks, Federal Hall, 2 kiosks
on sidewalks outside Trinity Church and Pier A
-
6 paid college interns
-
$550,000 pledge from City Council for 2
permanent interactive information kiosks
-
Small working board, 7 full-time staff,
4-7 consultants
-
44% corp. support, 44% foundation
support, 10% city/state; operating budget just under $900,000
[Slides: logo, map, downtown skyline,
Trinity Church and World Trade Center, New York Stock Exchange J. P. Morgan and
Wall Street, Lobby of Woolworth, Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian,
Pier 17, African Burial Ground, National Park Service Sites including Castle
Clinton, Ellis Island, State of Liberty, Map, Map, Blue Trail, Green Trail
looking up Wall Street to Trinity Church, Brooklyn Bridge, Map Back Panel, J.
P. Morgan and Wall Street, City Hall Park, Staten Island Ferry, World Financial
Center, Newspaper Row
1998
map, markers:
Orange adds a new site Museum of Jewish
Heritage/Wagner Park
Red adds a new site William Barthman Jeweler
Blue remains the same
Green divides the Great Skyscrapers
into 3 sites—1 & 14 Wall; 40 & 48 Wall; 70 Pine. Makes the New
York Stock Exchange a separate site. Makes the Staten Island Ferry a separate
site. Makes the U. S. Custom House a separate site. Combines 55 Wall Street and
20 Exchange Place. Combines Bowling Green with the Museum of Financial History.
Creates a new site for the New York Information Technology Center.
Total of 40 markers
According to RDK notes: Site panels
have a front panel of text and pictures to describe the site and a back panel
to display the Heritage Trails map and other tourist information.
1999 saw the installation of the final
10 markers.
1999
Map changes: Equitable Building switched from Red
to Blue Trails, reducing the number of Red Trail sites to 9 and increasing the
Blue Trail sites to 8. There also appear to be some title changes: South Street
Seaport becomes South Street Seaport Museum and Marketplace, and Fraunces Tavern Historic District becomes Fraunces Tavern Block Historic District and Museum.
1999
(c.) undated draft memo lists 34 accomplishments of HTNY
1. Installed
4 color coded trails
2. Designed
unique 3D map used on site markers, brochures, subway stations, and various
downtown locations
3. Erected
40 Site Markers
4. Printed
40-page illustrated, self-guided walking tour booklet
5. Printed
HT brochure each year
6. Held
Heritage Tourism Conference
7. Initiated
tour program, contracted out to Big Onion Walking Tours
8. Produced
interactive video on Downtown History used in Federal Hall
9. Designed
and constructed a visitor’s kiosk in Federal Hall
10.Designed,
refurbished and installed Visitor Information Kiosks in two Downtown locations
(doesn’t say where)
11.Trained
and supervised summer interns to work in Visitor Information Kiosks
12.Established
criteria for a Downtown Visitors Center
13.Developed
a plan to use existing technologies to enhance Heritage Trails
14.Produced
and distributed a HT Newsletter
15.Worked
with Landmarks Conservancy on Downtown walking tour book which included
Heritage Trails components (map, illustrations of site markers)
16.Designed
and installed Heritage Trails New York Web Site (?)
17.Established
a Five-Borough Heritage Tourism Initiative
18.Participated
in conferences and workshops
19.Developed
a sound marketing and sales strategy for the tour program and implemented it
20.Became
recognized throughout the city due to press coverage, collaborations and product
development
21.Initiated
advertising campaigns for HTNY and Downtown
22.Developed
plans for a HT component in Pier A visitors center
23.Raised
funds from the City, corporate and foundation sources
24.Established
a Board of Directors and held regular meetings
25.Asked
to participate in Downtown planning and Downtown organizations
26.Education
programs: held training institute for NYC parochial schools, developed
curriculum for NYC public schools in conjunction with NYHS
27.Produced
Site Marker for Lower East Side Centennial Block for DOT
28.Served
as consultant to groups interested in establishing heritage trails: Brooklyn
Heights, Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and Flushing
29.Added
an Art Trail to HTNY Map
30.Developed
a membership program for HTNY
31.Held
two fund-raising events: Theater Benefit of “1776” and book-signing cocktail
party at Windows on the World.
32.Explored
ways to light the Site Markers
33.Did
extensive research about interactive components
34.Provided
scripts for water tours for Seaport Liberty Cruises and New York Waterways.
1999
(c.) 2016. 01.02.15.a Unsigned letter to Robert MacDonald MCNY re
HT
-
Support MCNY move to Tweed and offer
assistance.
-
List achievements of Heritage Trails
-
3D user friendly map
-
Graphic identity created by Chermayeff & Geismar
-
Four color-coded trails for self-guided
tours marked with colored dots
-
Publications including self-guided
walking tour brochure and subsequent versions of TrailsMap
-
40 Site Markers
-
Tour program including generalized
walking tour and special tours
-
Information kiosks with trained interns
-
Video on Heritage Trails and
information booth at Federal Hall
-
PR campaign brought widespread
attention
-
Joint programming with Downtown museums
and attractions
-
Attempt to develop a visitor’s center
Heritage Trails Board: Richard Kaplan,
Laurie Beckelman, Adrienne Bernard, Rachelle
Friedman, Elliot Green, Stephen Lemson, H. Claude Shostal and Carl Weisbrod
Undated
2016.01.02.18 Press Release American Institute of Architects
Honors Mr. Richard D. Kaplan AIA
Walking
Tours
April
24 1997 2016.01.02.12.e Press release:
“Heritage Trails & New York Waterways Plan Pirates Day Downtown”
April
28 1997 2016.01.02.12 Press release: “Free
Pirate Cruise of New York Harbor Opens NY Waterways & Heritage Trails Tour
Season May 17”
May
28 1997 2016.01.02.18.a Press Release World of Finance: Additional Tour
Sept
3 1997 2016.01.02.12.c Press Release: Where is Wiechquaekeck Trail? Additional
Tour
Oct
17 1997 2016.01.02.18.b Press Release Most Heritage Trails NY
Regularly-Scheduled Tours Being Hibernation After November
Undated
2016.01.02.18.c Press Release Heritage Trails New York: Explore Downtown’s
Past, Present and Future
Undated
2016.01.02.18.d Press Release Heritage Trails’ Highlights of Downtown Walking
Tour Connects Historic Sites, Illuminate History
Undated
2016.01.02.18.e Press
Release Heritage Trails NY Launches Six New Tours to Meet Tourism Boom in Lower
Manhattan
Undated
2016. 01.02.18.g Press Release George Washington Walks The Heritage
Trails
Related
Projects
Feb
25 1997 2016.01.02.22.b “Downtowners in Every Sense” American
History Workshop proposal for visitor’s center
April
1997 2016.01.02.23.a Liberty Plaza Crossroads of a Global Village,
a version of “Global Town Square,” by Sanders/Wellington
Associates
May
5 1997 2016.01.02.22.a Draft
Proposal for Downtown Tour & Information Center by “City Prop” (internal
notes appears to be Richard Kaplan)
-
Why a Downtown Tour and Information
Center should happen
-
Steps to take in establishing a Center
-
Elements of Heritage Hub
-
Plan to get this to happen
July
10 1997 2016.01.02.22.c RDK rough draft concept paper new downtown
info center
1999-2002—
Transfer to Alliance for Downtown New York
In 1999 Heritage Trails transferred the
maintenance of the markers and the distribution of the Heritage Trails map to
the Alliance for Downtown New York, which was publically announced in 2000.
Operations wound down with Richard Kaplan transferring the office to his home
in 2000 and Alexia Lalli resigning in 2002.
1999
2016.01.02.28.c Scale down operations, design and install
final 10 site markers
Oct
6 1999 2016.01.02.16 Alliance
has taken over maintenance of most of the site markers
Oct
7 1999 2016.01.02.16.b Lex Lalli/Nadine Peyser Minutes HTNY Board Meeting
Downtown Alliance has taken over
maintenance of most of markers (small insurance problems of markers outside
“the district;”) DA taken over the distribution of Trails Maps; Alliance
working with graphic design firm [Pentagram] to see how map might be modified
to serve as The Map for downtown; HTNY & LMCC initiating planning for joint
programming; further integration with Alliance; Kaplan Fund willing to allocate
funding for next two years
Oct
20 1999 2016.01.02.16.c Nadine to Lex about HTNY assets
Alliance has taken obligation of
maintenance of site markers, insurance of site markers, make HTNY official map
of downtown, guided tours, distribution of map
Oct
27 1999 2016.01.02.16.d Nadine to Lex, Carl agreed to proposal,
next steps: 1. Install site markers 2. Figure out how to turn markers over to
Alliance 3. Get Bob (Douglass) and Carl to agree to proposal and make contract
4. Inform LMCC of new developments 5. Review copyright issues of map 6.
Establish role of HTNY at Alliance and its oversight by NP & AL and any
HTNY board members that want to stay involved 7. Work out assignment of HTNY
staff to Alliance 8. Inform HTNY Board of developments and hold a final HTNY
Board meeting 9. Plan a celebration 10. Celebrate
Oct
27 1999 2016.01.02.16.e Lex to Pauline $75,000 grant from City
Council for HT remaining 13 markers [including replacement markers for City
Hall, Newspaper Row and Woolworth Building], affiliation with Alliance
Oct
27 1999 2016.01.02.16.f Heritage Trails and the Alliance: A New Era
Confidential Memo
-
Grant from City Council to DOT of
$75,000 to cover installation of HT’s remaining 13 Site Markers “in the mail”
-
During past several months HT
developing a plan to affiliate with Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
-
Carl Weisbrod
and Board question whether LMCC affiliation appropriate
-
Board strongly suggested discussion
with Alliance for it to be the “home” of HT
-
HT would now like to enter into
negotiations to transfer its assets and programs and all of its rights to the
Alliance
-
J. M. Kaplan Fund would be willing to
consider a $75,000 grant over each of the nest two years to help the transition
Nov
12 1999 2016.01.02.27.a Memo to Board Members
HTNY from Kaplan, Lalli, Peyser
re: HTNY Alliance Merger – the Map will be used by the Alliance, the 40
installed Site Markers will become part of the Alliance streetscape plan, the TrailsMap “handout” will be annually updated, reprinted and
distributed. Downtown Alliance will now use Heritage Trails’ programs, physical
assets and brand identity as important parts of its tourism and way-finding
marketing strategy for Downtown.
Dec
2 1999 2016.01.02.16.g Meeting with Alliance – Finances, 37
Markers in, permission for 42 (missing 3 in City Hall Park – City Hall,
Woolworth & Printers Row) 2 sites not selected
2000
2016.01.02.28.c Heritage Trails New York becomes Heritage Trails World Wide,
funds used for removal of dots from the sidewalks of downtown.
January
4, 2000 2016.01.02.05 Memorandum
of Understanding between the Alliance for Downtown and Heritage Trails New York
April
17 2000 2016. 01.02.16.h Press Release Downtown Alliance and
Heritage Trails unite to take Heritage Tourism in Downtown New York to the Next
Level
May
2 2000 2016.01.02.15.b Letter to Friends of Heritage Trails from
Kaplan HT and Robert R. Douglass Alliance for Downtown integrating HT into
Downtown Alliance
May
2 2000 2016.01.02.16.i HTNY/Alliance
“celebratory” dinner remarks
June
13 2000 2016.01.02.16.j letter from Suzanne O’Keefe to Richard
Kaplan
Pentagram is working on revising the
map, wants new map installed on the site markers by July 4th weekend.
“….at some point the Downtown Alliance will need to look at the graphic
composition of the historic panels of the other side of the markers.”
Oct
30 2000 2016.01.02.28.c report to JM Kaplan Fund.
General
Information founded in 1994, worked for many years
to develop a series of trails and site markers, maps and tours in Downtown New
York. Over 40 Site Markers on the street; Alliance become the caretaker of HTNY
legacy; HTNY becoming Heritage Trails World Wide, establish a program in Cuba;
has held two conferences on Heritage Tourism at the New School, will hold
conference at New School on December 7 2001 on preservation of 20th
century architecture. 1998 fund from
JMK to support general operations of HT, production of TrailsMap,
the design and installation of over 20 markers, summer internship program and
information kiosks in two downtown locations. 1999
HTNY scales down operations, JMK supports general operations, installation of
final 10 markers, guided tour programs and discussions about a downtown visitors
center. 2000 moved operations to
home of RK, JMK supports removal of dots, legal fees, moving expenses purchase
of equipment for new office, consulting fees for Alexia Lalli,
trip to Cuba
July
13, 2001 2016.0.02.07 General Transfer and Assignment, License Agreement, Assumption
Agreement signed between Alliance for Downtown and Heritage Trails World Wide
Sept
21 2001 2016.01.02.15.d Alexia Lalli HT
to Conn Nugent JM Kaplan Fund letter requesting funding $25,000 conference on
Cuban architecture, help Alliance rebuild downtown, renew support for
organizations’ involvement in endeavors
July
25 2002 2016.01.02.07.b Alexia Lalli to
Richard D. Kaplan, resignation as director of Heritage Trails
August
7 2002 2016.01.02.07 c Alexia Lalli to
RK and Jennifer – Report of Heritage Trails 2001, meeting of Board of
Directors HTNY June 5 2001, October 30 2001 Report to J. M. Kaplan Fund,
Financial Report, Certificate of Registration – Service Mark
Related
Projects
Feb
17, 2000 2016.01.02.09.v Memo JS (Sanders) to
RDK Tel Tale Proposal for a web site, palm pilot listings
Oct
5 2000 2016.01.02.09.w Sanders to RDK memo TelTale
Prototype Development
Feb
4 2003 2016.01.02.09.y Sanders to RDK update of TelTale
Heritage
Trails Summary
April
22 2002 2016.01.02.19.b Lex Lalli to RDK
“Heritage Trails was founded by Richard
Kaplan in 1994 as Heritage Trails New York. In its first incarnation, Heritage
Trails was asked to assist in the revitalization of downtown New York, the area
south of Canal Street, as part of an overall strategy to make it into a 24-hour
neighborhood, attract development, increase tourism, and restore it to a vital
and economically viable part of New York City. Heritage Trails identified the
historically and architecturally important site in the district, created a
special 3-dimensional map, located four distinct walking trails, erected 40
large site markers/ map panels, conducted guided walking tours of the area, and
worked with all the sites, attractions, businesses and institutions in the area
to identify this part of New York as the birthplace of the city and indeed the
nation.”
Descriptive Summary Creator:
Heritage
Trails New York (later Heritage Trails World Wide) Title: The
Records of Heritage Trails New York Dates: 1994-2005
(check) Abstract: Richard
D. Kaplan founded Heritage Trails New York (HTNY), a public history project for
lower Manhattan, in 1994. HTNY ultimately consisted of a system of 4 trails and
historical markers documenting lower Manhattan sites. Quantity: tbd Identification:
The Skyscraper Museum Archive Location: The
Skyscraper Museum Archive Historical/Biographical Note: Richard
D. Kaplan founded Heritage Trails New York in 1994 as a public history project
focused on lower Manhattan. The four, color-coded trails consisted of colored
dots with markers documenting the history of specific sites, a visitors’ center
and kiosks and a brochure and maps to assist in guided and self-guided tours.
The project was gradually turned over to the Alliance for Downtown during
1999-2001. The organization closed in 2002. Scope and Content Note Collection includes presentation boards, publications,
correspondence, memoranda, legal agreements, notes, clippings, reports,
invoices, financial records, proposals newsletters, press releases and
brochures. Organization Organized into two series: Series I Presentation Boards; Series II Offices Files 1994-2005 Arrangement Series I follows numerical order of boards, Series II
follows sequence of files as arranged by HTNY (roughly chronological) Restrictions Access Restrictions Open to qualified researchers. Use Restrictions Appointments are necessary for use of archival material. For
more information, contact The Skyscraper Museum 39 Battery Place New York, NY 10280 Access Points Subject Names Richard D. Kaplan Nadine Peyser Alexia Lalli Anthony W. Robins Keith Helmetag Subject Organizations Heritage Trails New York Heritage Trails World Wide The J. M. Kaplan Fund Chermayeff & Geismar C & G Partnership Stephan Van Dam Subject Topics Downtown Manhattan Lower Manhattan American Stock Exchange World Trade Center World Financial Center Battery Park City Trinity Church Equitable Building St. Paul’s Chapel Woolworth Building City Hall African Burial Ground Civic Center Foley Square Brooklyn Bridge Printing House Square Chase Manhattan Plaza Federal Reserve Bank South Street Seaport Pier 17 Fulton Fish Market Seamen’s Church Institute John Street Methodist Church Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York Liberty Tower Federal Hall New York Stock Exchange J. P. Morgan & Company Bank of New York Irving Trust Company 1 Wall Street Bankers Trust Building 14 Wall Street Manhattan Company Building Trump Building 40 Wall Street Bank of New York & Trust Company Building 48 Wall Street Cities Service Building 70 Pine Street City Bank-Farmers Trust Company Building 20 Exchange Place National City Bank 55 Wall Street Hanover Square Hanover Bank India House First Precinct Police Station 100 Old Slip Colonial New York Street Plan Stone Street Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Dutch City Hall Archeology Site Fraunces Tavern Historic District New York Unearthed The Shrine of St. Elizabeth Seton Staten Island Ferry Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Pier A Battery Park Castle Clinton Bowling Green United States Custom House National Museum of the American Indian Museum of American Financial History Subject Places: New
York (State)—New York Manhattan Lower
Manhattan Downtown
Manhattan Document Types: Presentation boards Publications Correspondence Memoranda Legal agreements Notes Clippings Reports Invoices Financial records Proposals Newsletters Press releases Brochures Other Names: Related Material The Skyscraper Museum Separated Material Administrative Information Provenance Materials
donated by Edwina Sandys (SP?) in 2016 Preferred Citation Published
citations should take the following form: Identification
of item, date (if known); The Records of Heritage Trails New York; ACC.#; box
number; folder number; The Skyscraper Museum.
FINDING AID Heritage Trails New York (HTNY)
This Finding Aid and Inventory to the Archives of Heritage Trails New York (HTNY) refer to the collection donated to The Skyscraper Museum from the holdings of HTNY founder Richard D. Kaplan, now housed at The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Pl., New York, NY 10280. The Museum has endeavored to make the key documents available on line. These can be viewed as pop-up images in issuu.
The original documents are open to qualified researchers for further consultation on application to the Museum by emailing [email protected].
