- 
  
  Europeans started to explore the region at the beginning of the 16th century
 - 
  
  Peter Minuit purchased larger Manhattan Island from some of the natives. He bought this land with 60 guilders in tools, farming equipment, cloth, and shell beads.
 - 
  
  More than half of a million new motor vehicles were on the streets even with the construction of roads and highways throughout the city
 - 
  
  New York produced 1/12th of all manufacturing in the whole nation
 - 
  
  Holland Tunnel opened
 - 
  
  The Great Depression had a negative effect on the construction of some highways. The Great Depression stopped the West Side Highway construction.
 - 
  
  The George Washington bridge opened