CHRONOLOGY OF NEW YORK CITY'S FACTUAL "FIRST" 1524-1999
Researched and Compiled by Miriam Medina

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*Please note this is a work in progress. New researched information will be added periodically.

1 9 7 8

1) The National Neurofibromatosis Foundation, Inc. at 95 Pine Street in New York City was established.

2) American Council on Science and Health, 1995 Broadway in New York City was founded in 1978.

1 9 7 9

1) The Guardian Angels vigilante organization begins patrolling subways and City streets. * (NYCT)

1 9 8 1 

1)NYU scientists present the first evidence linking rare cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, with immune deficiency in a distinct population of homosexual men, a key step in identifying AIDS. *(NYU)

19 8 2

1) The FDNY firemen became firefighters, as a Federal Court judge ruled to change the department's physical exam so that women would be able to join the force. A new test was approved, and that fall 11 women passed the new physical exam, graduated from the Training School, and were assigned around the city. *FDNY

2) Cats, a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City, October 7,
1982. *(afp.com)

3) Barracks-style shelters are opened for the City's large homeless population. * (NYCT)

19 8 3

1) The Broadway musical, La Cage aux Folles opened at the Palace Theater in New York City, August 21,1983. *(afp.com)

19 8 4

1) Queens Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro is the first female vice-presidential nominee of a major U.S. party * (NYCT)

2) The first issue of Fire Apparatus Journal was published in June of 1984.

1 9 8 5

1) 1985 - The US's first mandatory seat belt law went into effect, in New York. *(a.com)

2) Metropolitan Tower at 142 W. 57th street was built in 1985. * (t.a.)

3) Equitable Center West 787 7th avenue was built in 1985.

4) March 31, 1985 the WWF, now known as the WWE presented the first Wrestle Mania Pay Per View event, marketed as the Greatest spectacle in professional wrestling, revolutionizing the Sports Entertainment industry. Notable other events at the Garden.


19 8 6

1) The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center opens.

2) The Malverne Historical & Preservation Society held its first meeting on October 27, l986.

3) The American Express Building Three World Financial Center, at 200 Vesey Street was completed in 1986. * (t.a.)


19 8 7

1) 1987: The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is established.

1 9 8 9

1) City elects David Dinkins as its first black mayor.

2) Compressed natural gas, a clean alternative energy source, is first used in the City's official vehicles. *nyca

3) Solomon Equities Building at 1585 Broadway was completed in 1989. * (t.a.)

4) 1 Worldwide Plaza at 935 8th avenue was completed in 1989.

5) J. P. Morgan Headquarters at 60 Wall Street was completed in 1989. * (t.a.)

1 9 9 1

1) Carnegie Hall Tower 152 W. 57th was completed in 1991. * (t.a.)

19 9 2

1) NYU Medical Center opens Women's Health Services under the auspices of the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology
and Radiology.*(NYU)

19 9 3

1) The School of Medicine's Skirball Institute of Bio molecular Medicine, the largest building project in history of NYU, is opened as an uncompromising commitment to the advancement and understanding of molecular approaches for the treatment of various important diseases. *(NYU)

1 9 9 5

The first Brooklyn History Fair is held. * (BTL)

19 9 6

1) City Council approves: a).. Merger of Emergency Medical Service into NYC Fire Department. b) Merger of Transit and Housing Police and Traffic Enforcement into NYC Police Department c.. Creation of Trade Waste Commission to regulate private carters in City's effort to eradicate organized

1 9 9 7

1) As of September 30, 1997 the Wall Street Journal, New York City was the top daily newspaper in the United States. * (t.a.)

1 9 9 8

1) The Playwrights' Sidewalk dedicated October 26, 1998. "New York's only permanent monument to the great Playwrights
whose work has been performed at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and other Off-Broadway Theatres"

2) DeVry Institute of Technology in Long Island City, N.Y. was founded in 1998. * (t.a.)

1 9 9 9

1) In 1999 Lucille Lortel granted the Lucille Lortel Theatre to the Lucille Lortel Theatre Foundation, establishing a new booking policy of non-profit productions only.

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