1523.org
The 1523 Project references the last year before Captain Verazzano sailed the Long Island coast. In his wake Native life changed forever.
Journey to any place in time you choose.
the Map
the Natural World
20,000 years ago this beach on the north coast of Eastern Long Island, N.Y., was beneath 300 feet of ice, rocks and boulders. Over time, the glacier melted, Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay flooded and the First People arrived.
the First People
Evidence for the arrival of the Indigenous People of Eastern Long Island comes in the form of Clovis Points, which date to 12,500 years ago. In those days, the First People were big game hunters. They used Clovis tipped spears to bring down mastodon, caribou, moose, giant beaver, sabre toothed cats, dire wolves and short nose bears.
The descendants of the First People still live in their ancestral homeland. The Shinnecock Nation, a Federally recognized Native tribe, the Unkechaug Nation, a New York State recognized tribe, the Montaukett who seek Nation status and the descendants of the Native People of the North Fork and Shelter Island are still here.
the Puritan People
In 1640 A.D., English settlers arrived on the East End of Long Island. They came for a variety of reasons. Many came for religious freedom, some came to start a new life and others were adventurers and soldiers
the Enslaved People
The story of the Enslaved people of Eastern Long Island is not well known and is seldom told. Slavery as an institution and economic engine was used throughout the world before human rights and anti-slavery movements became effective. Both the English and Dutch used Enslaved People to help build the farms, villages and Towns we all know today.
the American People
Eastern Long Island's history includes; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, spy rings, Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Walt Whitman, Andy Warhol, WW2 fighter plane factories, moonshiners, celebrities and artists.
Travel from 1776 to 2000 A.D. and learn about 234 years of American history.
the Modern Age