i like this new yorker magazine slide show even better than the manhattan overlay map, it's interesting (it's 13 renderings). i suggest you look at them one at a time instead of using the slide show. its all about manhatta, land of the lenape indians and includes some various early euro settlements:

 

 

 

the link:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/2007/10/01/slideshow_071001_maps?slide=1#showHeader

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That site was really interesting.  Ive seen a book on old Manhattan/New York maps that had a few of the older ones in it, including that British one.  A few of those reappear in " AMerican Cities, Historic Maps and Views" (including the British one in an big gatefold).

 

But the computer modelling really was interesting.  One thing I wonder about though is the verticle scale.  That rendering of Murray Hill looks suprisingly high...are the hills in Manhattan today really that noticeable in terms of elevation?  I had thought the topography wasn't that high, though it might have been rough.

 

 

 

 

This may be a dumb question, but are they still expanding the island today?

i see there is still a noticeable hill in murray hill/ 3rd ave on the god-forsaken occasions i have to walk around over there. also way up at the top in wash hts and esp in inwood where the cloisters are.

 

uncle i would say technically yes they are still slightly expanding manhattan today via the westside hudson river park developments. i can't think of anything else tho, no dredgings or anything major like that. no talk of anything in the near future either that i can think of.

 

 

 

^---- Notice that most of the piers end on the same line. There is an imaginary line called the "U.S. pier and bulkhead line" that presumably was set by the Army Corp of Engineers. Land owners are not allowed to build beyond that line because they would be infringing on the shipping channel.

^

thanks for the info!

 

I sent this link to my secretary since he is a native New Yorker (grew up & lived in Manhattan and the Bronx)..he got a kick out of it, and he told me there was a valley across the island up near Morningside Heights was at, near Columbia.

 

I took a look at that British map and sure enought you can see that valley.

 

 

^ there most certainly is. there is a big dropoff from the east side columbia down into harlem there. i am talking about behind the massive cathedral of st. john divine --- great views of harlem camera buffs!

 

here's a pic from my old columbia/morningside hts thread:

 

 

from what I understand Manhattan dips in the 80s (much more obvious on the west side than the east) and rise steadily starting around west 130 street going north and St. Nicholas going west, up to the coisters.

^ and just where in the hail have you been young man?

^ and just where in the hail have you been young man?

 

You called me "young"  :lol:.  God, I love you people! Thank you.  Oh, where have I been Caffeine detox (I've been forced to cut way back on my coffee) and New York, London, Atlanta & LA for work.