New York City Police Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1999 |
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The New York City Police Museum (NYCPM) was a special place that taught people about the history of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). It was started in 1999 and was located in Lower Manhattan, New York City.
A big part of the museum was a memorial to the September 11 attacks. But it also showed many other things about the NYPD's past. Visitors could even try a police simulation game. This helped them understand what police officers sometimes face.
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How the Museum Started
Plans for a police museum were first shared on February 16, 1998. The Police Commissioner at the time, Howard Safir, and a local business group called the Alliance for Downtown New York, offered $5 million for the museum. This was in exchange for a new police station in Lower Manhattan.
Some people thought this funding was unfair. They felt it meant one area was buying police protection. Because of this, Mayor Rudy Giuliani stopped the funding two days later.
But the museum idea didn't die! In March 1998, the New York City Police Museum was officially created as a non-profit group. The museum then opened in April 1999. Its official opening ceremony was held on January 19, 2000.
Museum Collections and Programs
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The museum had many interesting items. One special item was the original New York Yankees logo. It was designed by Louis Tiffany even before the team existed!
Over the years, the museum displayed many cool things, such as:
- A 1972 Plymouth Fury police car.
- A model of a jail cell.
- A timeline showing how police transportation changed.
- Tools used by the famous lock-picker Willie Sutton.
A large part of the museum's third floor was dedicated to the September 11 attacks. This exhibit helped visitors understand the physical damage and debris from the attacks. The museum also had a "Hall of Heroes." This section listed the name and badge number of every NYPD officer who died while on duty. This list started with David Martin on August 6, 1861. The museum was also known for its popular car show.
Museum Locations Over Time
The museum started as a small gallery at the New York City Police Academy. Over time, it moved to several different places in Manhattan. As of 2023, the museum does not have a permanent home. This is because its last main location was damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
Broadway Location
The museum first opened its doors at 26 Broadway in January 2000. This location was near Bowling Green. The museum was run by a private group, but the city helped out. For over ten years, the museum got free rent and police officers helped with staffing.
Private donors gave over $2 million to build the museum. The city also gave $1 million. Some people felt the museum focused too much on only the good parts of the police department's history.
This new museum replaced a smaller gallery that used to be at the police academy. Some of the exhibits at the Broadway location included:
- A display showing how police uniforms changed since 1853.
- A gun used by Al Capone's gang in a 1928 murder.
- The first machine gun used in a gangland killing in New York.
- A gift from Italy to New York City. This gift was given after Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino was killed in Sicily in 1909. He was the only NYPD officer killed while on duty in a foreign country.
- An old green and white radio car.
- Antique firearms.
- A wooden desk from the 46th Precinct in the Bronx.
Old Slip Location
In January 2002, the museum moved and reopened at a new spot on Old Slip. This location was closer to South Street Seaport. The new building was special because it used to be the old First Precinct Police Station. It was designed by Richard Howland Hunt and Joseph Howland Hunt and built in 1909-1911.
This building was considered a model police station for its time. It was also a landmarked building. From 1884 to 1973, this grand building was home to the First Precinct. One historian even called it "the most important police precinct in the world." The precinct closed in 1977 after facing some challenges. Museum officials felt moving here would help connect visitors with the department's long history. The renovations for this new space cost over $4 million. The exhibition area grew by almost 45%.
Later Locations
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused a lot of damage to the 100 Old Slip building. The museum then reopened on October 24, 2013, in a temporary space at 45 Wall Street. However, that location closed in 2014. In the summer of 2017, the museum had a temporary "pop-up" display on Governors Island.
See also
