This documentary (7 DVD's) takes you from the beginning of New York City as a Dutch colony to somewhere around 1990. Unfortunately, much of the wonderful photography of the modern skyline is tragically dated, since the project was completed well before September 11th, 2001.
Regardless, what this documentary does best is to give you an insight into the most important personalities that shaped this city, e.g., Robert Moses, Al Smith, LaGuardia, Stuyvesent, etc. As a viewer, you get a feel for what it was like to live during all of the periods that were covered. The real detail of the series ends around 1970, so its better for covering earlier New York History.
Regardless, what this documentary does best is to give you an insight into the most important personalities that shaped this city, e.g., Robert Moses, Al Smith, LaGuardia, Stuyvesent, etc. As a viewer, you get a feel for what it was like to live during all of the periods that were covered. The real detail of the series ends around 1970, so its better for covering earlier New York History.