New York City today is full of towering skyscrapers, honking taxis, and shoulder-to-shoulder sidewalks–but rewind about 400 years, and you’d barely recognize it.
We’re talking lush forests instead of Fifth Avenue, flowing streams where subway lines now run, and wildlife roaming through what would eventually become Times Square.
Now, the New York Botanical Garden’s new exhibit Before New York, is bringing that long lost landscape back to life–and you’re invited to step inside.
25 Years of Research Brought to Life
Before New York is the result of more than two decades of comprehensive research by renowned urban ecologist Dr. Eric W. Sanderson, who set out to reconstruct what NYC looked like before modern development.
The exhibit transports visitors to 1609, right before Henry Hudson arrived–aka back when there wasn’t a single skyscraper in sight. Sanderson stated:
The natural history of our own backyard has so much to teach us, in the face of grave threats to our Earth and biodiversity…It is my hope that this exhibition will bring to life the people, plants, animals, and landscape who have shaped our city’s past, present, and future.
What NYC Looked (and Sounded) Like Before NYC
The exhibit blends a mix of large-scale visuals with digital renderings to reimagine the city’s original landscape–one shaped entirely by nature–in a way that actually feels immersive.
Visitors can explore:
- Never-before-seen digital renderings of NYC’s original landscapes
- Panoramic images based on historical and ecological data
- Soundscapes recreating what the city actually sounded like centuries ago (think: birds, water, and wind instead of traffic and subway rumbles)
Each scene is mapped to specific areas across the five boroughs, showing exactly what stood where your apartment, office, or go-to bagel spot is today.
Sanderson hopes the exhibit will inspire everyone who sees it to champion the conservation nature into the future.
Then vs. Now
One of the most fascinating parts? Seeing then vs. now.
Modern day images are layered against historical reconstructions, revealing just how dramatically the city has transformed–from dense ecosystems to paved-over streets.
The exhibit also explores how NYC neighborhoods developed in response to their natural surroundings, and what that means for the city’s future as it faces climate and sustainability challenges.
It’s Traveling Across All Five Boroughs
While the main exhibition is on view now through November 15, 2026 at NYBG’s Ross Gallery, Before New York isn’t staying in one place.
Traveling pop-up installations will appear across all five boroughs, each paired with:
- Public talks from Sanderson
- Guided neighborhood walking tours
- Artistic programs inspired by local ecological history
Locations and dates will be announced on NYBG’s website–so consider this your sign to keep an eye out!
