New York City in the Space Age
The atlas holds 45 people and 99 moments here, from 1957 to 2023. The most recorded lives are Whitney Houston, Robin Williams and Martin Luther King Jr..
Notable people
Whitney Houston
from 1978 to 2001
11 moments here
American singer, actress, producer, and cultural icon known for recordings including “I Will Always Love You,” major world tours, film roles, and…
Robin Williams
from 1973 to 2011
7 moments here
Robin McLaurin Williams was an American actor and comedian, born in Chicago and raised in Illinois, Michigan, and California.…
Martin Luther King Jr.
from 1958 to 1967
5 moments here
American Baptist minister and civil-rights leader who advanced racial equality through nonviolent protest.…
Judy Garland
from 1959 to 1967
4 moments here
American actress, singer, and vaudevillian, born Frances Ethel Gumm. Garland rose from childhood vaudeville and MGM musical films to become a major…
Carrie Fisher
from 1973 to 2009
4 moments here
Carrie Frances Fisher was an American actress, writer, and public advocate, internationally known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films.…
Nelson Mandela
from 1990 to 1993
3 moments here
South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, lawyer and statesman. Mandela helped lead the African National Congress, co-founded its armed wing,…
Fidel Castro
from 1960 to 2000
3 moments here
Cuban revolutionary and political leader who led the 26th of July Movement against Fulgencio Batista, became Cuba's prime minister in 1959, and later…
Jorge Luis Borges
from 1971 to 1979
3 moments here
Argentine writer, poet, essayist, translator, lecturer, librarian, and critic. Borges was born in Buenos Aires, lived in Switzerland and Spain during…
Kofi Annan
from 1983 to 2006
3 moments here
Ghanaian diplomat and statesman who served as Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006.…
Freddie Mercury
from 1977 to 1982
3 moments here
Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) was a British singer, songwriter, pianist, and lead vocalist of Queen.…
Indira Gandhi
from 1968 to 1983
3 moments here
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was an Indian stateswoman who served as prime minister from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.…
Benazir Bhutto
from 1971 to 2002
3 moments here
Pakistani political leader who served twice as prime minister, from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996.…
Tupac Shakur
from 1971 to 1995
3 moments here
American rapper, actor, poet, and political activist, also known as 2Pac and Makaveli. His documented life included childhood in New York City and…
Kurt Cobain
from 1992 to 1993
3 moments here
American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of Nirvana. This chronology maps documented residences, recording sessions, performances,…
Ebrahim Raisi
from 2022 to 2023
3 moments here
Iranian cleric, judicial official, and politician who served as president of Iran from 2021 until his death in a helicopter crash in 2024.…
Elizabeth II
from 1957 to 2010
2 moments here
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death.…
John F. Kennedy
from 1960 to 1962
2 moments here
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was an American naval officer, journalist, congressman, senator, and the 35th president of the United States.…
Steve Jobs
from 1998 to 1999
2 moments here
Steven Paul Jobs was an American entrepreneur, inventor, and executive who co-founded Apple, founded NeXT, and led Pixar.…
Che Guevara
in 1964
2 moments here
Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928–1967) was an Argentine physician, Marxist revolutionary, Cuban government official, diplomat, and guerrilla commander.…
Marlene Dietrich
from 1967 to 1968
2 moments here
German-American actress and singer Marlene Dietrich (Marie Magdalene Dietrich) was born in Berlin and achieved international fame through stage,…
Hugo Chávez
from 1999 to 2006
2 moments here
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías was a Venezuelan army officer and politician who led the failed February 1992 coup attempt, became president of Venezuela in…
Shinzo Abe
from 2013 to 2015
2 moments here
Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020.…
Heath Ledger
from 2005 to 2008
2 moments here
Australian actor and music-video director whose career began in Australian television, expanded internationally after his 1998 move to the United…
Michael Jackson
in 2001
1 moment here
American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist whose career began with the Jackson 5 and developed into global solo stardom.…
Moments
- 1957 Addressed the United Nations Elizabeth II
- 1958 Stabbed at Harlem book signing Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1959 Returns from India through New York Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1959 Metropolitan Opera House concert run Judy Garland
- 1960 New York office and departure for Spain Ernest Hemingway
- 1960 United Nations Security Council address Golda Meir
- 1960 Meeting Gamal Abdel Nasser at the United Nations Dwight D. Eisenhower
- 1960 United Nations annual session Fidel Castro
- 1960 Address to the UN General Assembly Jawaharlal Nehru
- 1960 Joined the split-screen third debate John F. Kennedy
- 1961 Prensa Latina posting in New York Gabriel García Márquez
- 1961 Judy at Carnegie Hall Judy Garland
- 1962 Celebrated birthday at Madison Square Garden John F. Kennedy
- 1962 Sang for President Kennedy at Madison Square Garden Marilyn Monroe
- 1964 Lectures at the New School Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1964 Departure from New York for world tour Che Guevara
- 1964 United Nations address Che Guevara
- 1967 First Broadway engagement Marlene Dietrich
- 1967 Addresses antiwar march at United Nations Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1967 Delivers “Beyond Vietnam” Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1967 Return to the Palace Theatre Judy Garland
- 1967 Felt Forum appearances Judy Garland
- 1968 Second Broadway engagement Marlene Dietrich
- 1968 United Nations General Assembly appearance Indira Gandhi
- 1969 Apollo 11 ticker-tape parade Neil Armstrong
- 1970 Special UN General Assembly session Indira Gandhi
- 1971 United Nations Security Council visit with her father Benazir Bhutto
- 1971 Honorary doctorate at Columbia University Jorge Luis Borges
- 1971 Adjunct Professor of Writing at Columbia University Nadine Gordimer
- 1971 Birth in East Harlem Tupac Shakur
- 1971 United Nations General Assembly work George H. W. Bush
- 1972 Visit to New York Jorge Luis Borges
- 1972 Madison Square Garden concert Elvis Presley
- 1973 Broadway debut in Irene Carrie Fisher
- 1973 Juilliard scholarship Robin Williams
- 1975 Central Park 10K Robin Williams
- 1976 Democratic National Convention Jimmy Carter
- 1977 Performed at Madison Square Garden Freddie Mercury
- 1978 Town Hall solo performance Whitney Houston
- 1979 PEN Club visit to New York Jorge Luis Borges
- 1979 Copacabana live comedy recording Robin Williams
- 1979 United Nations General Assembly speech Fidel Castro
- 1979 Launches presidential campaign in New York Ronald Reagan
- 1980 Modeling discovery at Carnegie Hall Whitney Houston
- 1980 Censored Scenes From King Kong on Broadway Carrie Fisher
- 1980 Madison Square Garden shows Freddie Mercury
- 1981 Madison Square Garden performance Rafael Orozco Maestre
- 1982 Saturday Night Live appearance Freddie Mercury
- 1983 Agnes of God at the Music Box Theatre Carrie Fisher
- 1983 UN Secretariat director in New York Kofi Annan