Harlem is one of
New York City’s most historic and culturally vibrant neighborhoods. It is perhaps best known for the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s, when legends like Langston Hughes, Billie Holliday and countless others helped create new and exciting styles of their artistic realms. Yet Harlem has always been at the forefront of the cutting edge and avant-garde. The neighborhood has continually reinvented itself since the Dutch first settled
Manhattan, making it one of the most dynamic communities in the nation. Visit the Apollo Theater and the Cotton Club and discover the stories behind the luminaries and landmarks that have made Harlem a mecca of African American culture for more than 150 years.
Background Information
Harlem, which drew its name from Haarlem in the Netherlands, became the largest community of black Americans in the early 20th century. New York City at the mouth of the Hudson River is the largest city in America. Manhattan Borough is essentially the Island of Manhattan, site of New Amsterdam and the commercial center of New York City.
