Historical figures in New York City

The atlas holds 252 people and 669 moments here, from 1772 to 2023. The most recorded lives are Nikola Tesla, Andy Warhol and Isaac Asimov. Among them Writers, Political Leaders and Performers, across the Space Age and the Cold War.

Notable people

  1. Whitney Houston

    from 1978 to 2001

    10 moments here

    American singer, actress, producer, and cultural icon known for recordings including “I Will Always Love You,” major world tours, film roles, and…

  2. William Howard Taft

    from 1911 to 1916

    2 moments here

    William Howard Taft was an American lawyer, judge, colonial administrator, secretary of war, 27th president of the United States, and 10th chief…

  3. William Makepeace Thackeray

    from 1852 to 1855

    2 moments here

    English novelist, illustrator, journalist, lecturer, and editor, best known for Vanity Fair.…

  4. Winston Churchill

    from 1895 to 1953

    3 moments here

    Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874–1965) was a British soldier, journalist, author and statesman whose career ranged from imperial campaigns in…

  5. Woodrow Wilson

    in 1919

    1 moment here

    Thomas Woodrow Wilson was an American academic, governor of New Jersey, and the 28th president of the United States.…

  6. Yasser Arafat

    in 1974

    1 moment here

    Palestinian political leader, founding member of Fatah, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization from 1969 to 2004, and president of the…

  7. Yayoi Kusama

    from 1958 to 1969

    8 moments here

    Japanese avant-garde artist, novelist, and performance artist known for polka dots, Infinity Net paintings, immersive mirror rooms, and public…

  8. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

    from 1957 to 1973

    3 moments here

    Pakistani barrister and statesman who served as Pakistan’s fourth president (1971–1973) and ninth prime minister (1973–1977).…

Moments

  1. 1981 Photographed in New York Satyajit Ray
  2. 1981 Ritz show for Rod Stewart Tina Turner
  3. 1982 Saturday Night Live appearance Freddie Mercury
  4. 1983 Agnes of God at the Music Box Theatre Carrie Fisher
  5. 1983 Talk at Felt Forum Jiddu Krishnamurti
  6. 1983 UN Secretariat director in New York Kofi Annan
  7. 1983 Private Lives on Broadway Elizabeth Taylor
  8. 1983 38th UN General Assembly Indira Gandhi
  9. 1983 Triple-bypass surgery at NYU Lutheran Medical Center Isaac Asimov
  10. 1984 Judges tryouts at Trump Tower Andy Warhol
  11. 1984 Moves into final Factory Andy Warhol
  12. 1984 Sabbatical and UN address in New York Desmond Tutu
  13. 1984 Political meetings in New York Benazir Bhutto
  14. 1984 Burkinabé art exhibition Thomas Sankara
  15. 1984 Harlem rally Thomas Sankara
  16. 1984 United Nations General Assembly address Thomas Sankara
  17. 1985 United Nations address Jiddu Krishnamurti
  18. 1985 WrestleMania guest referee Muhammad Ali
  19. 1985 United Nations General Assembly advocacy Desmond Tutu
  20. 1985 Meeting with Ronald Reagan at the United Nations Rajiv Gandhi
  21. 1986 Martin Luther King Jr. celebration performance Whitney Houston
  22. 1986 Relocation to Fort Lee Whitney Houston
  23. 1987 Final hospitalization and death Andy Warhol
  24. 1987 United Nations visit in New York City Ali Khamenei
  25. 1988 Waiting for Godot at Lincoln Center Robin Williams
  26. 1988 UN disarmament address Rajiv Gandhi
  27. 1988 United Negro College Fund benefit Whitney Houston
  28. 1988 Governors Island Summit Mikhail Gorbachev
  29. 1989 Solo visit to New York and Harlem Hospital Diana, Princess of Wales
  30. 1989 Visiting scholar in New York Liu Xiaobo
  31. 1989 UN General Assembly address Margaret Thatcher
  32. 1990 Arista AIDS benefit concert Whitney Houston
  33. 1990 Addresses the United Nations Nelson Mandela
  34. 1990 Welcomed in New York Nelson Mandela
  35. 1991 Gardens of the World reception Audrey Hepburn
  36. 1991 Cover to Cover concert at Madison Square Garden George Michael
  37. 1992 Saturday Night Live performance Kurt Cobain
  38. 1992 Death in Manhattan Isaac Asimov
  39. 1993 New Music Seminar performance Kurt Cobain
  40. 1993 Radio City Music Hall concert Whitney Houston
  41. 1993 Addresses UN on sanctions Nelson Mandela
  42. 1993 MTV Unplugged taping Kurt Cobain
  43. 1994 Death at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center Richard Nixon
  44. 1994 Stroke at Park Ridge home Richard Nixon
  45. 1994 Rainforest Foundation Concert Whitney Houston
  46. 1994 Javits Center appearance Selena
  47. 1994 Quad Studios shooting Tupac Shakur
  48. 1995 Transfer to Rikers Island Tupac Shakur
  49. 1998 Grammy performance of Nessun Dorma Aretha Franklin
  50. 1998 VH1 Divas Live Aretha Franklin

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