Gosh, NYC has so much history; it’s surreal if you can see it all in one place. Unfortunately, it’s rare to see it all in one place. Much of the Native American presence has been erased, so it’s hard to notice. The only place I can remember seeing it is at the National Museum of the American Indian, but that is an artificial presence, so it doesn’t really count. But at least they are being recognized, and an effort is being made to help the existing Native communities.
I’m grateful that many buildings from the colonial and post-colonial eras are still around. Modern architecture will never be able to surpass the beauty of the older buildings. I think it’s good to remember and see our past. America has come so far in such little time; we should acknowledge and be grateful for the people who worked for progress (aside from those who committed genocide on the Native population.) NYU has officially earned my disapproval for trying to modernize areas like Greenwich Village.
NYC is also a cultural and social hub. You can find almost every type of person there with every kind of interest. The city’s history has a lot to do with that. It was the entrance point for immigrants coming to the East Coast; the rise of African-American literature and music started in Harlem; places like the Stonewall Inn became a beacon for the queer community. All these people came together to mold NYC into what it is instead of NYC molding them to fit a particular image.
Do I think each layer actively affects the present moment? No, not all the time. The layers play a passive role that exists more in our subconscious. But without them, the moment and experience wouldn’t be the same.