Pier 88 from Weehawken, New Jersey, November 9, 1937. “The Manhattan skyline taken from Weehawken, New Jersey. The S.S. ""Normandie"" is docked next to the French Line building (at Pier 88) and in the distance are: the RCA Building, the R.K.O. Building, the Time & Life Building, the General Electric Building, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and the Hotel Taft.”

By Alexander Wood The reign of Beaux-Arts architecture reshaped the landscape of the city at the turn of the century with grand public buildings that projected a new found sense of national power. The architects who embraced this style emphasized classicism, monumentality, and embellishment in their work, and were skilled at adapting historical precedents for modern building types. This article can be read in its original format here on the Gotham Center for New York History's Blog.

“Twelfth Avenue, north from West 45th Street, showing this marginal thoroughfare prior to improvement. The pier shown is No. 86 North River, located at the foot of 46th Street. The bend beyond is at 47th Street. April 11, 1924.” Eugene Armbruster’s photo captures the West Side waterfront about a decade prior to the development of the West Side Elevated Highway. Today, Pier 86 (lower left) is home to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, aboard the USS Intrepid, a decommissioned World War II-era aircraft carrier.

Kalman 'Kalmele' Weitz, known as “The Boy Cantor,” and ‘The Young Caruso” was born in 1916 in Grosswardein in Austro-Hungary on the Romanian border in what is currently known as Oradea, Romania. Weitz was a Jewish liturgical musician, concert performer frequently accompanying himself on piano, and a cantor, who hailed from a creative family of traditional scribes, rabbis, musicians and more. He debuted at six years of age before hundreds in a packed local synagogue on a Jewish holiday, and subsequently went on to tour widely in Central and Western Europe, even appearing in a musical film directed by composer Ferdinand Straub.

Beloved Academy Award winning German-Jewish actor Luise Rainer, arrived in America in 1935, as fascism continued to seduce Europe. In December 1940, a mere five years after arriving, having already won 2 Oscars two years in a row, and with America still sitting it out, and the war in Europe headlining the news, Rainer guest starred at The Forward's radio station WEVD, "Salute To America" program highlighting American democracy.

Entering service in 1935, the S.S. Normandie was built for the French Line Compagnie Générale Transatlantique in Saint-Nazaire France. It was one of the finest steamships ever built, built for what was thought to be a new age of sea travel.

By Alexander Wood While the other Gateway To The Nation describes the Custom House, this story focuses on the work of the Custom House. Read this in its original format here.