Ever since I was a child, every time I took a car ride through the city I always wandered what the city looked like 200 years, 500 years ago, etc., I guess I wasn't the only one who ever wondered - The Mannahatta Project aims to re-start the natural history of New York City, a few hours before Henry Hudson arrived 400 years ago.

themannahattaproject.org, which complements the book by Eric W. Sanderson, offers resources and maps and also lists Upcoming Mannahatta talks and walks in New York City

This what El Barrio/East Harlem looked like: