Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Contact
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Toggle search form
  • photo credit author Nehemia Gershuni-Aylho www.NGPhoto.biz and Wikipedia
    Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport  Activism
  • American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh murdered by Israeli soldiers May 11, 2022
    Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 American Arabs
  • Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ
    Jordan bans 12 news sites for ‘spreading media poison’ following corruption report Arab World
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech Activism
  • ADC creates emergency fund to defend people who are being punished for expressing views on the American-sanction violence by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Photo courtesy of ADC
    ADC Condemns ADL, Rep. Torres’ Defamation of Dr. Lara Sheehi Activism
  • UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories warns of a second Nakba  Arab World
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month Activism
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders American Arabs
  • Stuffed Grape Leaves. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    A recipe on how to make Stuffed Grape Leaves with lamb, ox tail and rice American Arabs
  • Andrew Boutros, interim US Attorney Northern District of Illinois. Photo courtesy of the US Attorney's Office
    Andrew S. Boutros Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois American Arabs
  • Israeli massacres of Palestinian civilians March 18 2025
    Palestinians demand investigation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza Strip Arab World
  • Illinois Muslim Action Day April 9 2025
    Illinois Muslim Action Day Policies at April 9 Statehouse News Conference American Arabs
  • Investigation demanded in March 23 massacre of 15 first responders by Israel's military in Rafah
    Investigation demanded into Israel slaughter of First Responder in Rafah on March 23, 2025 Arab World
  • More than a dozen candidates running for various local offices in the Chicagoland suburbs attended an Ifatr dinner Thursday, March 13, 2025 hosted by the Arab American Chamber of Commerce at the Jerusalem Banquet Hall in Bridgeview.
    Candidates promise fairness and engagement at Arab Chamber Iftar event March 13 Activism
  • Orland Fire Protection District, Fiscal Voices, receive endorsement of the Arab American Democracy Coaliton
    Independent candidates for Orland Fire receive Arab and Muslim American endorsement Activism

Little Syria focus of traveling Arab Museum exhibit

Posted on May 18, 2016May 18, 2016 By rayhanania 1 Comment on Little Syria focus of traveling Arab Museum exhibit
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Little Syria, NY Exhibition returns to New York for Tour, including Ellis Island Museum. Exhibition on immigrant enclave highlights one of the largest and earliest communities of Arab Americans in U.S.

Before the construction of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and the World Trade Center, Manhattan’s lower west side was home to one of the largest and earliest communities of Arab Americans in the nation. In the Little Syria neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, just as in immigrant enclaves of all ethnicities, newly minted Americans simultaneously held dear their old-country traditions and embraced their new nation as they labored, raised their families, educated their children, formed religious and community organizations and gradually became part of the life of New York.

To celebrate the deep-rooted history and sentiment of the community, The Arab American National Museum’s (AANM) traveling exhibition Little Syria, NY: An Immigrant Community’s Life & Legacy begins a three-stop tour in New York City starting Wednesday, May 25, 2016, through Sept. 16, 2016, at the New York City Department of Records and Information Services Visitors Center. It is scheduled to travel throughout New York City with additional stops at the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration Oct. 1, 2016 – Jan. 9, 2016 and the Metropolitan College of New York Jan. 20, 2017 – March 24, 2017.

Arab Museum traveling exhibit on Little Syria, New York
Arab Museum traveling exhibit on Little Syria, New York

Following its December 2012 premiere at the AANM in Dearborn, Mich., the exhibition was first presented in New York City at the 3LD Art and Technology Center, located in the footprint of the former Little Syria neighborhood. Later stops included the Museum at Antiochian Village in Bolivar, Penn., and the University of Minnesota Immigration History Research Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

“We are thrilled to bring the Little Syria, NY exhibition back to the city where the neighborhood once stood,” says Elizabeth Chilton, AANM’s manager of curatorial affairs. “There are many people who are striving against the tide of development to preserve what is left of the neighborhood and many who are working to preserve the memories of those who once lived there. We are proud to present this exhibition as a reminder of what has been lost and what still remains.”

Between 1880 and 1940, Arab immigrants arriving in New York City from the region then called Greater Syria (modern-day Syria and Lebanon) forged their new American identity around Washington Street in Lower Manhattan. Their entrepreneurial spirit transformed the neighborhood, which came to be known as Little Syria, into a thriving community lined with shops, restaurants and coffeehouses, each furnished with signs written in their native Arabic.

Little Syria was home to literary greats Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) (The Prophet, massively popular book of poetic essays published in 20 languages) and Ameen Rihani (1876-1940) (The Book of Khalid, the first Arab American novel) of the first Arab American literary society, The Pen League. Little Syria also saw the founding of early Arabic-language newspapers including Al-Hoda, the originator of the Arabic-language typeface for Linotype typesetting machines. New York’s first Arab Christian churches founded congregations there, as residents began new lives as peddlers, merchants, restaurateurs and textile workers, laying the foundation for generations to come.

Among the notable businesses in Little Syria were Bardwil Industries, today the largest linen company in the U.S., and a name familiar to generations of southeast Michigan residents – Germack Pistachio Co., founded by Armenian immigrants from Greater Syria. The Germack family imported products from Arab countries including pistachios, olives, olives oils and spices. Today, it is the oldest roaster of pistachios in the U.S. and one of the few American companies that roast squash/pumpkin seeds in house.

Among the images and artifacts that comprise Little Syria, NY are numerous historical photographs including several by the renowned American photographer Berenice Abbott (1898-1991) from her Changing New York Works Progress Administration (WPA)/Federal Art Project, shot between 1935-1938. There is a first edition of Gibran’s beloved book The Prophet signed by the author, and a letter written by Gibran on the subject of Syrian famine relief efforts in Boston. A vintage peddler’s trunk full of its original wares, samples of fine lace available to New York merchants from Syrian-run textile mills, even a fashionable women’s bed jacket by designer Odette Barsa will be on display.

Little Syria, NY: An Immigrant Community’s Life & Legacy 

May 25–Sept. 16, 2016

The NYC Department of Records and Information Services

31 Chambers Street Visitor Center

New York, NY 10007

212.788.8633

Oct. 1, 2016–Jan. 9, 2017

Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

Ellis Island

New York, NY 10004

212.363.3200

Jan. 20–March 24, 2017

Metropolitan College of New York

60 West St.

New York, NY 10006

212.343.1234

Contact venues to confirm exhibition days, times and location. Visit www.arabamericanmuseum.org/ls  for additional information.

 

newswire info
  • About
  • Latest Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Israelisnipers shooting and killing hospital workers in Gaza - December 11, 2023
  • CAIR Condemns Israeli Executions of Wounded, Unarmed Palestinian in West Bank   - December 11, 2023
  • Arab and Muslim American voters face a “simple choice” between Biden’s inhumanity and Trump’s edgy politics - December 9, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Editors Picks, Events, News Tags:American Arabs, Arab Museum, history, Little Syria, NEW YORK

Post navigation

Previous Post: Kayrouz urges Lebanese expatriates to strengthen homeland
Next Post: Journalist Ghanem assesses Obama, Trump & Clinton

Related Posts

  • Retailers pull racist anti-Arab costumes for Halloween American Arabs
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Nearly four years in office, Pritzker fails to deliver on promises to Arab Americans American Arabs
  • إحصاء السكان الأمريكي و حقوق العرب American Arabs
  • Ray Hanania radio show on the US Arab Radio Network sponsored by Arab News
    How will Arab and Muslim Americans vote and why, is focus of Arab Radio show in Michigan and online Activism
  • Photo courtesy of United for Iran
    Activists urge Iran to suspend death sentences on November protestors Activism
  • Jamie Farr brings down the House at annual AAI banquet American Arabs

More Related Articles

Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri Activism
Jim Zogby and Rev Jesse L. Jackson in 2020. Photo courtesy of AAI Arab and Muslims to join conference countering Democratic Convention “silence” on Gaza genocide American Arabs
Madama West Bank where Israeli soldiers and snipers shoot and fired at Palestinian civilians who were protesting. The soldiers were cheering eac time they hit or killed a civilian. The video is courtesy of B'Tselem, the Israeli civil rights organization Video: Israeli soldiers cheer shooting of Palestinian civilians Arab World
Youngest Tunisian candidate Dhauha Cherif. Courtesy of Abdennour Toumi Tunisian elections: Youngest female candidate poised to make history Ali Younes
Storms, floods slam Gaza Strip Arab World
Chicagoland church raises funds for Nazareth Hospital American Arabs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Ray Hanania's 4 times a week columns at https://RayHanania.com at Substack

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Photo courtesy of Journalist Abdennour Toumi
    France: Political Compromise vs Political Instability
    August 28, 2024
  • Zakia Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia
    Arabs eat Middle East food like they are making love
    June 27, 2024
  • Zwar lamb kabob and kufta with white and yellow rice
    Zwar ranked the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland suburbs
    June 8, 2024
  • Pictured: Rahm Emanuel, Afghan activist Salman Aftab who was co-chair of the Iftar dinner, and several non-Arab Muslim leaders. Also pictured is Ald. Joe Moore. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania for Arab News
    Comprehensive look at the failings of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
    January 18, 2024
  • NEWSWIRE
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech
    June 1, 2025
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month
    April 29, 2025
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders
    April 27, 2025
  • Mike Ghouse
    Celebration of 500th Interfaith Marriage Ceremony
    February 14, 2025

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • NEWS
  • photo credit author Nehemia Gershuni-Aylho www.NGPhoto.biz and Wikipedia
    Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport 
    June 7, 2025
  • American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh murdered by Israeli soldiers May 11, 2022
    Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022
    June 1, 2025
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Faisal Abbas Book Anecdotes
    Book Review: Arab author shares his anecdotes living in the United Kingdom
    October 22, 2024
  • Columnist Ray Hanania at the ADC Convention in Dearborn with the author Susan Abulhawa
    Book Review: Mornings in Jenin bySusan Abulhawa
    September 14, 2024
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Television set and remote. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
    MBC GROUP unveils MBCNOW, its brand-new groundbreaking entertainment service aggregator
    February 24, 2025
  • ArabCon 2024 Gala Program features Dr. Cornel West, Macklemore, and more
    September 6, 2024
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2025 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme