Join me and the Greater Astoria Historical Society for a look at Skillman Avenue, the road that runs along Sunnyside Yards and through Sunnyside. We’ll see the Building With 1000 Windows (Swingline Staples) , Sunnyside Gardens, Yards views, the buff-bricked Gustave X. Mathews Flats. Skillman Avenue is a mixture of two definitely distinct parts, from the factories, lofts, plants and railyards of its western end to the small town, residential and somewhat funky atmosphere of its eastern end, a distillation of western Queens.
What can a Queens street reveal about the relationship between technology and the built environment? Join Forgotten NY for a fascinating exploration of Skillman Avenue and the innovative industries that once shaped—and continue to shape—its landscape. From factories and workshops to transportation, infrastructure, and the technologies that transformed how people worked and lived, Skillman Avenue offers a remarkable window into Queens’ industrial past and evolving urban future. We’ll look beyond the familiar streetscape to uncover the ingenuity embedded in its buildings, businesses, and infrastructure—and consider how technological change leaves its mark on the city. Come discover the unexpected stories hiding in plain sight along Skillman Avenue, where industry, invention, architecture, and everyday urban life intersect.
This is a reprise of the very first tour I did with Greater Astoria in April 2011, held in cold and drizzle. We won’t have that issue this time, since I’ll be doing it on Zoom!
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 7 PM (try to “arrive” 10 minutes in advance to check in)
WHERE: Wherever your computer or phone is
HOW MUCH: $7.18 including fees
HOW LONG: approximately 90 minutes
TERRAIN: Depends on how much your floor is swept
Register for your tour at this link. Upon registration, you’ll be sent the zoom link.
10/10/26