The American Menu

1922 After the First World War, Americans travelled to France in ever increasing numbers. Five menus from the steamship Lafayette  in 1922  ...

“America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and  New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.”   – Tennessee Williams  In the lat...

1902-1909 A little over two decades ago, staffers for an incoming president searched for White House menus from the turn of the last century...

The White House,  1885  President Chester A. Arthur was a tall and fashionably-dressed metropolitan who enjoyed the finer things in life. On...

New York City, 1895 The most entertaining thing for the average person attending an America’s Cup race is perhaps the food and drink. Once i...

New York City,  1881  Schedler’s High Bridge Hotel was located in Washington Heights, the highest and northernmost part of Manhattan. The ho...

1904-1931  The advent of the postcard provided the hospitality industry with innovative ways to advertise. One of the unique formats that em...

Brooklyn, New York 1897  Brooklyn’s pastoral Prospect Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the landscape architects ...

1878-1978 “Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist,” observed English writer G. K. Chesterton. Nevertheless, music...

New York City,  1904-1905  The immigration station on Ellis Island reopened in 1900 after a fire destroyed the original complex three years ...