Talks of the Town Lecture Series
Admissions: $5 / free for members*
This program series explores topics that compliment exhibitions and education programs. The series hosts a diverse set of speakers, experts, and facilitators to bring in-depth insights and perspectives on various subjects related to Staten Island and Greater New York. This series focuses on published works related to Staten Island history, inviting published authors to connect with the community. Public Programs are held quarterly in the 3rd County Courthouse Courtroom on Wednesday or Thursday evenings at 6pm; and on weekend afternoons at 2pm.
*Visitors are encouraged to book online, cash at the door ($10 credit limit).
April 20, 2024 | 2pm
Fresh Kills: A History of Consuming and Discarding in New York City in conversation with Phillip Papas
Discover the discarded history of Fresh Kills, long-time New York City landfill -turned public park.
For decades, Staten Island was defined by Fresh Kills—a monumental 2,200-acre site—once the world’s largest landfill. From 1948 to 2001, it was the main receptacle for New York City’s refuse. After the 9/11 attacks, it reopened briefly to receive human remains and rubble from the destroyed Twin Towers, turning a notorious disposal site into a cemetery. Today, a mammoth reclamation project is transforming the landfill site, constructing an expansive park three times the size of Central Park. Martin Melosi provides a comprehensive chronicle of Fresh Kills that offers new insights into the growth and development of New York City and the relationship among consumption, waste, and disposal. He traces the metamorphoses of the landscape, following it from salt marsh to landfill to cemetery and looks ahead to the future park.
Martin Melosi is Cullen Professor Emeritus of History and founding director of the Center for Public History at the University of Houston. His most recent book is Fresh Kills: A History of Consuming and Discarding in New York City. Other books include The Sanitary City: Urban Infrastructure in America from Colonial Times to the Present (2000) and Atomic Age America (2013).
