The Ghosts of New York City | Documentary

When we think of the United States of America, what is the first image that pops into our minds? For some, it’s open countryside and rural villages dotting the various terrains across the country, a symbol of agriculture and fruitful endeavors. For others, it’s trekking across mountains and hillsides, scavenging the westward deserts on an adventure to pursue the ultimate dream. For many, however, America can best be symbolized by its most bustling and populated metropolis: New York City.

While the concrete jungle is void of green foliage or the natural landscapes seen across the United States, it still houses the dreamers who chase those same goals. NYC is the focal point for artists and engineers and workers across all sectors to come together to fight for their innermost desires, a place where creativity and commerce thrive in synchrony. It’s a haven for anyone looking to escape, while at the same time network and develop a relationship with not just other people, but with an entire city, as well. That’s the kind of open arms the Big Apple is known for.

New York’s history is as vast as its diverse population, as well. Originally a Dutch fur trading settlement known as New Amsterdam dating back to 1625, New York was eventually given to the English troops in 1664 before becoming the province of New York and one of the original 13 colonies to fight for their independence from monarch rule in 1775. By 1790, it held the highest population in all of America, a record that would go unchanging over the next 230+ years. Throughout the 19th century, New York City became an international icon, the hub for both national and international trading in the United States, as well as the hot spot for European immigration into America. These developments, combined with the booming economy entering and exiting its harbor every day, pushed New York City well on its way to defining the success of the USA by the 20th century and remains to be true to present day.

With roots dating back to colonial times, and a centuries-long pattern of hosting millions upon millions of people, New York City is not without its paranormal side, either. No city on Earth with a rich history like New York has functioned without a darker underbelly, with stories full of supernatural entities and creepy characters lurking in dark subway tunnels or shadows of a fog-filled alley near the port. They may not be what defines New York City, nor may they be the most documented aspect of its history, but one thing’s for sure; there’s more than one reason why they call it the City That Never Sleeps…

Let’s take a deeper dive into a few of the notable and a few of the lesser-known cases of the Ghosts of New York City.

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[Tops]

Starting off the CreepyMarathonMonth with a 44-minute documentary? You bet! BEST Month of the year! Happy 1st of October everyone! 👻🎃💀

[blainefiasco]

New York ghosts be like
"Ey, I'm floatin' ere!"

[PSYCHOWORLD]

I’m in bed on a Friday night with no work tomorrow and a big plate of chili cheese fries while watching top5 new documentary. This is life.

[withallduerespect]

The wait is finally over, because it is officially “Creepy Marathon Month”💀🎃

[LightningZetton]

"what is the first image that pops into our mind"
expensive legal battles

[AllTimeScary]

"what is the first image that pops into our mind"
Poverty, corruption, ignorance

[davidperrott]

I know this has been out for a fairly long time and I'm watching it again and the likelihood of this comment going un-noticed is fairly high, I still want to say a heartfelt thanks Top5s for your consistently brilliant work. This was one of my first subs years ago and the time and effort you have put into this channel is obvious for all to see and quite staggering in it's quality. Thank-you so so much Top5 guys! You set the bar really high and it's only ever you who can get anywhere near it!
Dave out. x

[everythingbobbywolfe]

Please don't ever refer to yoko Ono as an 'artist'. It's like referring to the guy that sprays lines on the roads as Michaelangelo

[lindaann]

I love your no bullshit approach and that you actually do research.
Bravo!!!! 😁😁😁

[Frenchblue]

WHO LOVES OCTOBER AND ALL THINGS HALLOWEEN?!?!👿👺🎃👻🧙‍♀️🦇

[biz_bee]

One of the best things about October is the creepy marathon Top5s does. I'm blown away by the quality content they pump out.

[myrkvith]

To just add and correct your overall history--the Dutch picked the spot that Manhattan grew upon because it was already a major trading center for the Indigenous Munsee/Wappinger peoples. To this spot Indigenous traders from as far away as the Caribbean--the Taino--moving their way up the coast--were drawn due to the wealth of the Mohikinnituck (the Hudson River) and the Valley that one could travel all the way to the Adirondacks (for flint, copper, wampum shell and other goods). It was a place of commerce and dreams for them as well. The Dutch picked it because it offered both a port by which to enter the continent and a strategic lookout. The center of Manhattan island was a raised hunk of stone that offered a great view overlooking the surrounding ocean and countryside--but that was raized down to create the center of the City there now. Manhattan is a Munsee word that means "a thicket where wood can be found to make bows.” What was once heavily wooded is now a forest of buildings that are taller than the original stone peak. So the history and the haunting doesn't begin with the Dutch. And the island wasn't sold to the Dutch for trinkets. That is a legend told because the Dutch made a deal with the Munsee in which the Munsee granted the Dutch the right to trade on the island and sealed that deal with a wampum treaty-proclamation, in which the details of the treaty were coded on a belt. That the Dutch and later the English took advantage of that treaty are a matter of history. Haunted history indeed. Otherwise--great stories--NYC is full of them. I live there--it's a wild place.

[songoku]

It’s that time again! Time for some quality spooky content.

[rustymotor]

Fascinating documentary! I visited NYC just before the plague and saw a few places as featured in this article. Certainly an amazing experience coming from the vast uninhabited regions of central Australia which is my home to walking around NYC and seeing all the landmarks and crowds. I even visited St Pauls Cathedral which was closed due to renovations but explored the cemetry and examined the old grave stones, sadly no headless Ghosts snooping around though. Love to go back one day, amazing City!

[andrewhamilton]

I love these videos, my battle with depression is a little easier, It calms my crazy head

[jeffbustos]

I wish other documentary makers would take a cue from this fascinating piece and realize that loud narration, over the top background music, and adding screams and sound effects don't make a piece on haunted anything more scary....it actually, in my opinion, takes away and cheapens the piece. The narrator of this doc is understated and has a soothing voice, which holds my attention and adds to the spooky atmosphere. A job very well done!!!

[Guate]

Awesome video! I’ve lived in NYC my whole life and definitely did not know some of these stories. I will be visiting these locations during spooky season.

[JPee-xyou]

Originally from there and yes, it's the city that Never Sleeps. Cool stories. Thanx

[julieryerson]

My husband's family farm was where "ground zero" is today...it was known as the Ryerson farm...his family was one of the first 5 families in New York City

[cpproductions]

Thank you for saying New York City, as a Western New Yorker I get so mad when people refer to NYC as NY and think it's the whole state. When there is over 14, 000 sq mi of the state that is not city and most is not near any city.
One of my earliest ancestors is partly responsible for NYC becoming what it is. He was one of the first 500 settlers in New Amsterdam and was part of the trading company until the English took over.