On This Day February 2

In 1624 the Dutch established a settlement, New Amsterdam, at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, which served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland. New Amsterdam received municipal rights on February 2, 1653, thus becoming a city. Eleven years later New Amsterdam was captured by the British. It was renamed New York in honor of the Duke of York, future King James II of England, who had organized the mission.

New Amsterdam in 1664 (looking approximately due north)

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