Tech Commons

New-York Historical's digital learning lab and maker space designed for teens

The Tech Commons @ New-York Historical Society is an incubator for youth-driven digital history projects. The space offers a full array of digital equipment for teens to create projects in the digital humanities based on their interests. Such projects include blog posts, animated videos, online exhibitions, mapping, extended reality (VR/AR), and digital games.

Work in the Tech Commons is grounded in the authentic work of the digital humanities. Youth get strong academic mentorship and career training to help them work and think as historians. Students collaborate to conduct innovative research that makes use of both digital tools and the Museum’s extensive physical collections.

New-York Historical Society offers a robust suite of programming and internships for high school students year-round in the Tech Commons. Teens in all programs create their own digital history projects to amplify stories they care about. Their work is featured at the Museum and online, reaching students and teachers nationwide.

Any Questions?

Send us an email at teens@nyhistory.org.

Tech Commons for Teens

Whether you’re looking to do some research on our tablets, record a podcast or song, 3D print an artifact, design and code a website, or just hang out and explore, the Tech Commons is the place for you.

The Tech Commons @ New-York Historical was established with lead support from The Thompson Family Foundation. Generous support provided by The Robert K. Steel Family, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, New York City Council Member Helen Rosenthal, the Pine Tree Foundation of New York, and Susan Waterfall.

The Charles J. Tanenbaum Oral History Sound Studio is a gift of the Pine Tree Foundation of New York.

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Education programs are made possible through endowments established by:
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Hearst Foundations
Charina Endowment Fund Endowed Fund for American History at The New York Historical
The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation

Public funds are provided by:
Institute of Museum and Library Services
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature

Lead support for Education programs at The New York Historical is provided by:
The Achelis and Bodman Foundation
Edith and Frances Mulhall Achilles Memorial Fund
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Dorothy Tapper Goldman Foundation
Roger and Susan Hertog
Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation
KHR Family Fund
Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang
Mellon Foundation
Jean Margo Reid
Sandy and Dick Rippe
Gillian V. Steel and Robert Steel
David M. Rubenstein
Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang
The Thompson Family Foundation

Major support is provided by:
Veronica Atkins
Irma L. and Abram S. Croll Charitable Trust
Deutsche Bank
John & Patricia Klingenstein Fund
Edward Ludwig, in honor of Sister Ann Jordan, CSJP
Stavros Niarchos Foundation
The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts
The Waterfall Foundation
Whiting Foundation
Marie and John Zimmermann Fund
Anonymous

Additional support is provided by:
The Acorn Hill Foundation Inc.
Alice Lawrence Foundation
George Asch
The Barker Welfare Foundation
Herb Block Foundation
Cynthia and J. Hyatt Brown
Con Edison
Consulate General of the Netherlands
Erika Davis
Jane and Bill Donaldson
Mary Ann Fribourg
Seth Meisel
Lori and Mark Fife
Barbara and Stephen Friedman
Lucy and William Friedman
Herb Block Foundation
Alice Lawrence Foundation
Sandra and Lowell Mintz
Shelley Mulitz
Henry Nias Foundation
Steven L. Rattner
Michael and Dafna Schmerin
Richard E. Sylla
Szilvia Tanenbaum
Tiger Baron Foundation
The Michael Tuch Foundation
The Winston Foundation
Marie and John Zimmermann Fund