The second edition is in progress . . . 

The first edition of The Encyclopedia of New York City was a tremendous success by every measure, earning prizes for reference excellence, attracting critical acclaim around the world, and becoming one of Yale University Press's all-time top-five best sellers.

Luna Park at Coney Island (1912).

Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University

Now, over ten years after its initial publication, this exceptional and comprehensive resource is being updated. When the first edition was published, for example, the Plaza was a famous hotel, JPMorgan and Chase Manhattan Bank were separate entities, crime was on the rise, and the World Trade Center dominated the skyline. There was no such thing as a MetroCard or an E-ZPass and few people had heard of Chelsea Piers.

For a city as dynamic as New York, ten years encompass sprawling innovation and change on all fronts. In 2008, you will find over 1,000 new entries, maps, illustrations, charts, and tables in the second edition that will reflect the impact of the past decade on the city and its history. Approximately half of the existing entries will also be revised in this updating process.

We expect the second edition of The Encyclopedia of New York City to impress those familiar with the first edition, to be welcomed by everyone who loves Gotham, and to educate, inform, and entertain a new generation of readers. It will continue to serve as an indispensable tool for anyone who has an interest in New York City.

William "Boss" Tweed (c. 1871).

Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University

Subway construction on the Interborough Rapid Transit line (1904).

Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University