New Interactive Map Reveals the Stories Behind NYC’s Street Names

By Y.M. Lowy

Walk down Lee Avenue in Williamsburg and you’ll come across “Joseph Weber Way,” a co-named street honoring the beloved Williamsburg Askan who dedicated years to helping residents and strengthening community relationships. Like many co-named streets across New York City, the sign leaves many passersby wondering who the person was and why the street was named in their honor.

Now, a new interactive map from the New York City Department of Records and Information Services is giving residents the chance to discover stories like that all across the city.

The online tool highlights nearly 2,500 co-named streets throughout the five boroughs. Some honor world-famous figures. Others recognize teachers, activists, first responders, and everyday New Yorkers who left a mark on their communities. Each name has a story, and in many cases, it’s one that neighbors may not even realize is tied to their own block.

Users can zoom in on their neighborhood, click on a street, and read about the person behind the sign. It turns an ordinary walk down the avenue into a small history lesson.

For residents curious about the names they pass every day, the map offers a simple way to see New York’s history woven directly into its streets.