What New York Looked Like in 1776

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which marked the founding of the United States of America. Much important revolutionary history occurred right here in New York. To kick off our coverage of America's 250th birthday, Melissa Lauer, Manager of Education and Public Programs at the Fraunces Tavern Museum, paints a picture for us about what New York looked like in 1776, who lived here, and how the city viewed independence from Britain.