Alexander Hamilton and Robert Moses both left lasting marks on history, one as a founding father of our country (with a Broadway musical named after him) and the other as a master builder who's largely responsible for the way our great city works and looks today — but who's the man?
On Sept. 19, the Museum of the City of New York will attempt to answer this question with a debate between scholars, moderated by City Councilman Dan Garodnick.
"With the newfound interest in Alexander Hamilton, I was surprised to discover the many biographical similarities between the first treasury secretary and another towering New Yorker — the 'power broker' Robert Moses," said Garodnick, who pitched the idea to the museum.
"They each had an unorthodox style of wielding power: they were direct, cunning, and uncompromising wordsmiths who were unafraid to make enemies — and did so regularly — in a single minded pursuit of their goals. Both men created and used new tools of government to accomplish their aims, leaving indelible marks on this city in their respective fields of economics and infrastructure."
Joanne Freeman, professor of history and American studies at Yale University, will duke it out with Kenneth Jackson, professor of history and social sciences at Columbia University, with each outlining Hamilton or Moses' impact on New York City.
The debate is expected to be a lively one that is "downright fun," according to Whitney Donhauser, the director of the museum.
Plus, it will serve as a precursor to the museum's new exhibit coming in November called "New York at Its Core." The exhibit will explore New York City's history through three galleries covering the past, from 1609 to 1898, present, from 1898 to 2012, and the future.
It will include a number of stories about New Yorkers who changed the course of history and more than 400 artifacts from the museum's collection.
“Our upcoming landmark exhibition "New York at Its Core" will capture the human energy that drove New York City to become a city like no other and a subject of fascination the world over, bringing the city’s history to life through figures like Alexander Hamilton and Robert Moses plus dozens of others ranging from household names to personalities whose stories have yet to be widely told,” Donhauser added.
The debate begins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19 inside the museum at 1220 Fifth Ave. Tickets are $15 for museum members, $25 for adults, and $20 for seniors and students.
