There’s something so fascinating about all of the ways that the history of NYC shines through the modern city. Plaques all over the city provide insights into historical markers that may easily have been forgotten otherwise. Though improvements have been made to some buildings, there is often care taken to not remove the marks of history that permeate every corner of the city. Old buildings stay standing while new ones are erected right next door, and places like Central Park have been modernized while still maintaining the remnants of history simply due to location and memories made by those who once lived in the city in the past. By seeing what was once the history of New York while walking around what exists now, those in the city live somewhere in between modernity and history, a feat that seems impossible at times yet is undeniably the truth of every part of NYC, from the tunnels below to the skyscrapers above. While the city has been improved with time and technology, the fact stands that it is, in a way, like a manuscript that is continuously being edited for improvement. There are many traces of the original work that cannot be erased: the streets, historical buildings, and monuments are reflective of characters, plot points that the author would never allow to be altered lest the whole piece irreparably change. Throughout time and consultation, however, certain pieces crucial to the whole of the piece have been improved, buildings have been strengthened, additions have been made to historical areas. Finally, new buildings and monuments have been erected, pieces that harken back to what once was, but also pieces that are brand new, yet add more layers to the original city. New York City is both a time capsule and a modern marvel. We see what was in the same plane as what is and what could be, just as editors do with manuscripts.