NYC Before the Hustle: When Manhattan Was Basically a Giant Rooftop Party
Forget the honking cabs, the towering skyscrapers, and the never-ending stream of tourists. New York City wasn't always the concrete jungle it is today. Way back before the Dutch arrived (and decided to name it after a certain sassy duke), the area was a wildly different place. Buckle up, because we're taking a trip back in time to a time when the city that never sleeps...well, slept a whole lot more!
Nature's Paradise: When the Only Concrete Was Underfoot
Imagine this: rolling hills, thick forests teeming with wildlife, and sparkling waterways teeming with fish. That's what greeted the Lenape people, the original New Yorkers, who lived here for thousands of years. Their lives revolved around the seasons, hunting deer and turkey, fishing for salmon and sturgeon, and harvesting oysters the size of your head (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration, but you get the picture). Basically, it was a giant seafood buffet with a killer view.
Subdivisions? More Like Subsistence Living
Forget your fancy apartments – the Lenape lived in wigwams, communal dwellings made of wood and animal skins. They didn't have grocery stores, so their shopping trips involved heading into the forest, not Fifth Avenue. Social distancing wasn't a thing, because everyone pretty much knew everyone else. Can you imagine rush hour traffic being a herd of deer scattering in the morning mist?
Nightlife: Drum Circles Under the Stars
Instead of nightclubs with flashing lights and thumping bass, the Lenape unwound with storytelling, singing, and drumming around a crackling fire. Imagine gazing up at the Milky Way with zero light pollution. Talk about a lit night sky!
Fashion? Fur Was the New Black (and Brown and White...)
Forget high fashion and department stores. The Lenape wore clothes made from animal skins and decorated themselves with feathers and shells. Think survival chic meets bohemian flair.
So, what can we learn from NYC's pre-urbanization days? Well, maybe we should all appreciate green spaces a little more and ditch the never-ending to-do list for a good old-fashioned campfire hangout every now and then.
How-To FAQs for Time Traveling to Pre-Urbanization NYC (Disclaimer: Not Actually Possible, But Fun to Imagine)
- How to dress? Think deerskin jackets and seashell necklaces.
- How to get around? Brush up on your canoeing skills and maybe befriend a bear for a ride (not recommended).
- How to find food? Sharpen your fishing spear and practice your archery.
- How to entertain yourself? Learn to play the drums and brush up on your storytelling skills.
- How to deal with the lack of Netflix? Stargazing is free and way more impressive!
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