Port Richmond

Cornelius Vanderbilt, Aaron Burr, Faber Pencils, the atomic bomb, Paul Zindel, and David Johansen all have one thing in common: Port Richmond. Many Staten Islanders flocked to Richmond Avenue, known as the Fifth Avenue of Staten Island, to shop at Garber Brothers or at Tirone's Shoes or enjoy an ice-cream soda at Stechman's. The Ritz, Palace, and Empire Theaters hosted vaudeville shows, films, rock concerts, and roller-skating. More than a dozen places of worship have been founded in Port Richmond since the late 1600s, mirroring the community's ethnic diversity. Port Richmond traces the unique contributions of each new wave of immigrants to the neighborhood.

Phillip Papas, a lifelong Staten Islander, is an associate professor of history at Union Country College in Cranford, New Jersey. Lori R. Weintrob is chair and associate professor of the history department at Wagner College. Both are also affiliated with the Staten Island Historical Society. In addition to personal photographs, historic postcards, and prints from various sources, Port Richmond showcases vintage image from the collections of the Staten Island Historical Society, an organization dedicated to collecting and preserving documents and material objects that capture the Staten Island experience.