From Rubble to Real Estate: How Garbage Built Parts of Manhattan

New York City's Hidden History: How Garbage Shaped Manhattan New York City, a global icon, boasts a history as complex as its sprawling cityscape. A recent video highlights a lesser-known aspect of this history: the extensive use of garbage and rubble in land reclamation projects. From the earliest days of settlement, Manhattan's growth has been intertwined with its waste disposal practices. The video uses historical maps to illustrate how vast areas of the city were built upon layers of refuse. One striking example is the use of rubble from World War II-damaged Britain. This material, shipped across the Atlantic, formed a significant portion of the fill used in certain areas of Manhattan. "They just shipped it over to Manhattan and dumped it over here," explains the video's creator, highlighting the scale of this unusual construction method. The video also contrasts this historical practice with modern land reclamation projects in Dubai, which utilize sand on a massive scale. The video's creator, while enthusiastic in his presentation, offers a valuable lesson in urban planning and resourcefulness. The innovative (though unsanitary) solutions employed in the past offer a unique perspective on the evolution of major cities. The video concludes by showing how many cities have used similar methods, showing that New York is not unique in its approach.