This fall, The New York Historical presents a new exhibition that explores themes of memory, identity, and community. Stirring the melting pot: photographs from The New York Historical collections examines the immigrant experience in New York City through the lens of photography. The exhibition is on view November 28, 2025 – March 29, 2026.

“New York has always been a city of immigrants, and the photographs on view in Stirring the melting pot tell the story of resilience, identity, and belonging across generations,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of The New York Historical. “Through candid moments, the images reveal how individuals and families both preserved their heritage and transformed the city itself, creating community along the way.”

Curated by Valerie Paley, senior vice president and Sue Ann Weinberg director of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, and curatorial scholar Keren Ben-Horin, Stirring the melting pot offers an intimate portrait of the everyday lives of New Yorkers from across the globe who made a unique mark on the cityscape. Drawn from the vast holdings of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, the exhibition features more than 100 photographs and objects that capture how generations of immigrants have shaped—and been shaped by—the city they came to call home.

Spanning the 20th century, the photographs and select objects showcase children at play and in classrooms, seniors at recreational centers, workers in sweatshops and factories, families gathered at home, and celebrants at parades and festivals—together forming a vivid visual record of adaptation and community building. Additional highlights include poignant photographs documenting the impact of the 1904 General Slocum steamboat disaster on one family, underscoring how tragedy reshaped both immigrant communities and city neighborhoods. The exhibition also explores the myriad cultural and religious expressions in New York City, with depictions of Greek Orthodox churches, Cambodian Buddhist temples, Jewish synagogues, and Sikh temples that reflect the city’s rich spiritual tapestry.