Stuffed Alligator

04/19/23 • 29 min

“Alligators thriving in the sewers of New York City” –– one of the most famous and persistent urban myths. But could it be... true? Well, according to former Manhattan Borough Historian Michael Miscione, it’s at least “true-ish”! Learn more as he and Tania go down the manhole to find a truly epic tale of boys vs. beast.

Look at photos of this object and more at at https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-stuffedalligator

Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at cityreliquary.org

In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211

Learn more about Michael’s projects at https://nyc125.org/

Look at photos of this object and more at at https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-stuffedalligator

Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at cityreliquary.org

In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211

Learn more about Michael’s projects at https://nyc125.org/

Previous Episode

Pigeon Tags

“Why would pigeons need tags?” Tania asks in this episode, and it’s a natural question – pigeons are underfoot everywhere in big cities, and claiming one as your own might seem as silly as claiming a particular dead leaf or piece of litter. But popular urban naturalist Gabriel Willow joins her to explain how domestic pigeons have been an important and versatile part of human life for thousands of years, and their story opens a unique view of the wildlife in New York.

Look at photos of this object and more at https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-pigeontags

Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at cityreliquary.org

In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211

Learn more about Gabriel at https://www.gabrielwillow.com/

Next Episode

Model Buildings

A riddle: when are tiny models more than tiny models? Answer: when they were once part of a HUGE model. In the case of these unprepossessing little wooden and plastic buildings, probably the greatest scale model ever built: the Panorama of the City of New York. In this episode, Tania talks to Lynn Maliszewski of the Queens Museum about the crown jewel of their collection and the extraordinary history of its creation, spearheaded by one the biggest New Yorkers of all time.

Look at photos of this object and more at at https://www.cityreliquary.org/undiscarded-modelbuildings

Learn more about the City Reliquary, its mission, and its collections at cityreliquary.org

In the city or just visiting? Stop by the Reliquary any Saturday or Sunday, noon to 6pm, 370 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn 11211

And while you’re in town, plan your trip across Newtown Creek to visit the panorama and the rest of the Queens Museum at https://queensmuseum.org/