The Museum of the City of New York explores the past, present, and future of New York City and celebrates heritage of diversity, opportunity and transformation, making it a natural stop for anyone learning about the Big Apple. Among the museum's many educational offerings is its year-long history education program, which attracts hundreds of students from all over the city.

We recently spoke to Joanna Steinberg, the Frederick A.O. Schwarz Family Foundation Children's Fellow at the Museum, to learn more.

Tell us about NYC History Day. New York City History Day is an educational program that engages students in grades 6-12 in the discovery and interpretation of history. Students decide on a topic of interest related to an annual theme, and can work individually or in groups to create exhibit boards, documentaries, performances, websites, and research papers. Each March, hundreds of students citywide present their final research projects to a diverse group of judges at the Museum of the City of New York.

On Sunday, March 30, 370 students from all five boroughs will present their research projects on the theme Conflict and Compromise in History. The creative and interdisciplinary approach to studying history helps students hone their research skills and instills them with an appreciation of history, including their local or family histories. One of the most exciting aspects of History Day is the student interview with the judges who are professors, curators, archivists, and public officials. These interviews with the judges bring students into a genuine conversation with people who have in one way or another devoted their lives to studying history or serving the community. Students in grades 6-12 who are interested in doing historical research can participate in next year’s New York City History Day program. The theme will be The Individual in History.

Last year, a junior individual exhibit about the Willowbrook State School won First Place at both NYC History Day and National History Day. Can you tell us about his exhibit? The fact that the students can research any historical topic and study any period of time encourages them to develop original topics that engage their interests. For instance, last year James Marlow, a 7th grade student from Staten Island who attends the Genesis at Xaverian School in Brooklyn, created an exhibit board that was about the Willowbrook State School. He showed how the atrocities at Willowbrook led to reform in the treatment of people with developmental disabilities. Marlow then competed against students nationally and won the 1st Place Award in the Junior Individual Exhibit category at National History Day in College Park, Maryland, and also presented his exhibit at the Inaugural Elizabeth A. Connelly Memorial Symposium, NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, in Staten Island. All in all, the History Day program gives students the opportunity to share their findings with a larger community.

What should New Yorkers know about their history and what is an exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York that can help residents and tourists alike know more about our city? I think it is important for New Yorkers to discover how they contribute to the city’s incredible diversity, at the same time that they learn about the history of other neighborhoods and communities. This is consistent with the Museum of the City of New York’s mission. For example, one exciting upcoming exhibit is “Catholics in New York, 1808-1946” (opening on May 16). It will explore how successive waves of Catholic immigrants and their struggles against prejudice transformed the cultural, economic, and political life of the broader community over time, highlighting the growth of Catholic neighborhoods, the creation of a system of Catholic social welfare and educational institutions, and the ascendancy of Catholics in New York politics.

What is your favorite historical part of the city? I have an affinity for the West Village because I grew up in that neighborhood. It is a neighborhood that has always been culturally ahead of its time and physically preserved for us to experience. I enjoy walking down old streets that are not part of Manhattan’s grid and observing the historic architecture. Knowing that for many years Greenwich Village was a center for many artists, writers, and politicos is especially exciting. The modern waterfront parks that have recently been developed are a nice addition.

Beside the MCNY, what is a good museum to go to on a weekend? Another wonderful museum to visit on a weekend is El Museo del Barrio, which is just steps away from MCNY. This museum has expanded its mission to represent the diversity of art and culture in all of the Caribbean and Latin America. Currently on view is the exhibit Arte ≠ Vida: Actions by Artists of the Americas, 1960 – 2000, which surveys the vast array of performative actions created over the last half century by Latino artists.

What is a bit of NYC history you think more people should know about -but don't? All facets of NYC history are important and different parts of it will resonate with different people. As I said before, I think it’s enriching for people to know history on collective and personal levels.

What part of the city is undergoing the most exciting transition? New York is a city that seems to constantly reinvent itself and all boroughs of the city are experiencing dramatic change. It is hard to single out a particular neighborhood that is going through the most exciting transition.