Introduction
Welcome to the ultimate New York City trivia challenge! Whether you’re a native New Yorker or just a fan of the Big Apple, this comprehensive collection of trivia questions and answers will test your knowledge about one of the world’s most iconic cities. From historical facts to pop culture references, architectural wonders to hidden gems, we’ve got it all covered. Dive in and see how much you really know about New York City!
Historical Trivia 1
- What year was New York City founded?
- 1624
- Who was New York City named after?
- The Duke of York
- Which event in 1776 caused a major fire in New York City?
- The Great Fire of New York during the American Revolutionary War
- What was the original name of New York City?
- New Amsterdam
- When did New York City become the capital of the United States?
- 1789 (though it was only temporary)
Cultural Trivia 1
- What is the name of New York City’s famous annual parade held on Thanksgiving Day?
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Which iconic New York City building was the tallest in the world when it was completed in 1931?
- The Empire State Building
- What famous New York City park is home to the Central Park Zoo?
- Central Park
- Which famous jazz club is located in Harlem?
- The Apollo Theater
- What is the name of New York City’s largest museum?
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Geographical Trivia 1
- How many boroughs make up New York City?
- Five
- What are the names of the five boroughs of New York City?
- Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island
- Which river separates Manhattan from New Jersey?
- The Hudson River
- What is the name of the island located just off the southern tip of Manhattan?
- Governors Island
- Which borough is the largest by area?
- Queens
Pop Culture Trivia 1
- Which New York City landmark is often associated with King Kong?
- The Empire State Building
- What TV show features a group of friends living in Manhattan?
- Friends
- Which superhero is famously associated with New York City?
- Spider-Man
- What is the name of the hotel in the movie “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”?
- The Plaza Hotel
- Which New York City-based TV show stars Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw?
- Sex and the City
Food and Drink Trivia 1
- What type of pizza is New York City famous for?
- New York-style pizza
- Which food item is sold by vendors throughout New York City and is often enjoyed with mustard or sauerkraut?
- Hot dogs
- What is the name of the famous New York City deli known for its pastrami sandwiches?
- Katz’s Delicatessen
- Which cocktail, named after a New York City borough, contains rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters?
- Manhattan
- What dessert is Junior’s Restaurant in Brooklyn famous for?
- Cheesecake
Architectural Trivia 1
- Which New York City building is known for its distinctive triangular shape?
- The Flatiron Building
- What is the name of the world’s largest train station, located in New York City?
- Grand Central Terminal
- Which bridge connects Manhattan to Brooklyn?
- The Brooklyn Bridge
- What is the name of the iconic statue that greets visitors to New York Harbor?
- The Statue of Liberty
- Which skyscraper, completed in 2013, is the tallest building in New York City?
- One World Trade Center
Miscellaneous Trivia 1
- Which New York City park is known as “the lungs of the city”?
- Central Park
- What famous square in Manhattan is known for its annual New Year’s Eve ball drop?
- Times Square
- Which university in New York City is part of the Ivy League?
- Columbia University
- What is the name of the New York City public transportation system?
- The MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)
- Which famous concert venue is located in Madison Square Garden?
- The world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden itself
Historical Trivia 2
- Which New York City neighborhood was known as the birthplace of the LGBTQ rights movement in the U.S.?
- Greenwich Village
- What year did Ellis Island open as an immigration station?
- 1892
- Who was the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor?
- Giovanni da Verrazzano
- In which year did the Brooklyn Bridge open?
- 1883
- What was the first official park in New York City?
- Bowling Green Park
Cultural Trivia 2
- Which New York City theater is known for hosting the Tony Awards?
- Radio City Music Hall
- What is the name of the famous New York City flea market in Chelsea?
- Chelsea Flea Market
- Which performing arts center is home to the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York City Ballet?
- Lincoln Center
- What is the name of New York City’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market?
- Union Square Greenmarket
- Which New York City street is synonymous with high-end fashion and luxury shopping?
- Fifth Avenue
Geographical Trivia 2
- What is the name of the island prison in New York Harbor that closed in 1963?
- Alcatraz (Note: Alcatraz is in San Francisco Bay; the correct answer for New York is Rikers Island, still in use)
- Which borough is the most densely populated?
- Manhattan
- Which park in New York City is known for its annual Mermaid Parade?
- Coney Island
- Which bay lies between Brooklyn and Staten Island?
- New York Bay
- What is the name of the river that flows along the eastern side of Manhattan?
- The East River
Pop Culture Trivia 2
- Which building is the headquarters of The New York Times?
- The New York Times Building
- What 1984 film features the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man attacking New York City?
- Ghostbusters
- Which New York City hotel inspired the setting for the book and movie “The Plaza Suite”?
- The Plaza Hotel
- In which New York City neighborhood does the TV show “Seinfeld” primarily take place?
- The Upper West Side
- Which Marvel superhero group is based in New York City?
- The Avengers
Food and Drink Trivia 2
- Which New York City street is famous for its food trucks and vendors, especially for its variety of cuisines?
- 6th Avenue (also known as Avenue of the Americas)
- Which New York City restaurant is known for inventing the Waldorf Salad?
- The Waldorf Astoria
- What is a traditional New York City sandwich made with corned beef or pastrami on rye bread?
- A Reuben
- Which restaurant in New York City is known for its iconic neon sign and cheesecake?
- Junior’s Restaurant
- What is the name of the Jewish quarter in Brooklyn known for its bakeries and delis?
- Borough Park
Architectural Trivia 2
- Which New York City building has an observation deck on the 86th floor?
- The Empire State Building
- What is the name of the glass-enclosed, cantilevered observation deck at Hudson Yards?
- The Edge
- Which New York City landmark was the world’s tallest building when completed in 1973?
- The World Trade Center (Twin Towers)
- Which building is often referred to as the “Jewel of Park Avenue”?
- The Helmsley Building
- What is the name of the famous New York City concert hall that opened in 1891?
- Carnegie Hall
Miscellaneous Trivia 2
- Which New York City landmark is known for its whispering gallery?
- Grand Central Terminal
- What is the name of the public library located at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street?
- The New York Public Library (Main Branch)
- Which famous New York City parade is held on the last Sunday of June?
- The NYC Pride March
- What is the name of the island in New York Harbor that served as the first immigration station?
- Ellis Island
- What is the oldest surviving bridge in New York City?
- The High Bridge
Historical Trivia 3
- What year did the New York Stock Exchange open?
- 1792
- Who was the first mayor of New York City?
- Thomas Willett
- In what year did New York City consolidate with its five boroughs?
- 1898
- What historical event took place in New York City on September 11, 2001?
- The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
- Which famous inventor is associated with the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge?
- John A. Roebling
Cultural Trivia 3
- What is the name of the outdoor concert series held in Central Park every summer?
- SummerStage
- Which New York City theater district is known for its Broadway shows?
- Times Square
- What is the name of the famous jazz club located in Greenwich Village?
- The Village Vanguard
- Which New York City museum is known for its modern art collection?
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- What is the name of the annual art event held in Manhattan’s Armory building?
- The Armory Show
Geographical Trivia 3
- What is the name of the strait that separates Staten Island from New Jersey?
- The Arthur Kill
- Which borough is home to JFK International Airport?
- Queens
- What is the name of the highest natural point in New York City?
- Todt Hill
- Which park in Manhattan was built on an elevated freight rail line?
- The High Line
- What is the name of the large public park located in the Bronx?
- Pelham Bay Park
Pop Culture Trivia 3
- Which film features Audrey Hepburn eating breakfast outside Tiffany & Co. in New York City?
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s
- Which New York City hotel was featured in the movie “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”?
- The Plaza Hotel
- What is the name of the New York City newspaper featured in the Spider-Man comics?
- The Daily Bugle
- Which New York City club was known as the birthplace of punk rock?
- CBGB
- What famous building is the headquarters for the fictional company Dunder Mifflin in “The Office”?
- The Lipstick Building (although the show is set in Scranton, PA, this building was referenced in the series)
Food and Drink Trivia 3
- Which food item is associated with New York City’s delis and is typically enjoyed with lox and cream cheese?
- Bagels
- What famous dessert was invented at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel?
- The Red Velvet Cake
- What is the name of the iconic hot dog stand located in Coney Island?
- Nathan’s Famous
- Which New York City borough is known for its diverse food scene, including Astoria and Flushing?
- Queens
- What is the name of the classic New York City cocktail made with bourbon, sugar, water, bitters, and a twist of lemon?
- Old Fashioned
Architectural Trivia 3
- Which New York City skyscraper was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright?
- The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- What is the name of the famous beaux-arts library located at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street?
- The New York Public Library (Main Branch)
- Which New York City building was designed by architect Renzo Piano and houses a prominent media company?
- The New York Times Building
- Which iconic New York City building features a bronze statue of Atlas at its entrance?
- Rockefeller Center
- What is the name of the famous cathedral located on Fifth Avenue? – St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Miscellaneous Trivia 3
- Which New York City landmark was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966? – The Statue of Liberty
- What is the name of the major hospital located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan? – NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
- Which New York City neighborhood is known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community and nightlife? – Chelsea
- What is the name of the large public park located in Queens? – Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
- What annual event takes place in Times Square on New Year’s Eve? – The Ball Drop
Historical Trivia 4
- Which famous battle of the American Revolutionary War was fought in Brooklyn? – The Battle of Brooklyn (also known as the Battle of Long Island)
- Who was the first governor of New York State? – George Clinton
- In which year did the New York City blackout occur that led to widespread looting and arson? – 1977
- Which landmark Supreme Court case was centered in New York City and dealt with freedom of the press? – New York Times Co. v. United States
- Who was the influential urban planner known for shaping much of modern New York City? – Robert Moses
Cultural Trivia 4
- Which New York City venue is known as the “Home of American Ballet”? – The New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center
- What is the name of the famous music festival held in the East Village in the late 1960s? – The Electric Circus
- Which New York City library has two marble lions named Patience and Fortitude? – The New York Public Library (Main Branch)
- What is the name of the largest performing arts center in New York City? – Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
- Which New York City museum is dedicated to the art, history, and culture of the Jewish people? – The Jewish Museum
Geographical Trivia 4
- What is the name of the neighborhood in Brooklyn known for its historic brownstones? – Park Slope
- Which New York City park features the Unisphere, a symbol of the 1964-65 World’s Fair? – Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
- What is the name of the main street that runs through Harlem? – 125th Street
- Which river forms the western boundary of Manhattan? – The Hudson River
- Which New York City neighborhood is known for its large concentration of art galleries? – Chelsea
Pop Culture Trivia 4
- Which New York City landmark is featured in the opening credits of the TV show “Friends”? – The fountain at Central Park
- What famous New York City nightclub was popular in the 1970s disco era? – Studio 54
- Which superhero headquarters is located at 177A Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village? – Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum
- Which 1990 film features Kevin McCallister exploring New York City during Christmas? – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
- What is the name of the comic book superhero whose alter ego is Clark Kent, a journalist at the Daily Planet? – Superman (Note: Superman is based in Metropolis, but the Daily Planet has parallels to New York City’s newsrooms)
Food and Drink Trivia 4
- What type of deli sandwich is Katz’s Delicatessen famous for? – Pastrami on rye
- Which New York City restaurant is known for its extravagant sundaes and desserts? – Serendipity 3
- What is the name of the Italian market and food hall in Manhattan’s Flatiron District? – Eataly
- Which New York City bakery is famous for its cronuts? – Dominique Ansel Bakery
- What classic New York City cocktail is made with gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari? – Negroni
Architectural Trivia 4
- What is the name of the landmark building that houses the United Nations headquarters in New York City? – The United Nations Headquarters
- Which New York City skyscraper was the world’s tallest building until the completion of the Empire State Building? – The Chrysler Building
- Which building is the centerpiece of Rockefeller Center? – 30 Rockefeller Plaza (also known as the Comcast Building)
- What is the name of the Gothic Revival church located at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway? – Trinity Church
- Which historic theater is located at 175 Fifth Avenue and is known for its beautiful architecture? – The Flatiron Building (Note: The Flatiron Building is an office building; the nearby MetLife Tower is often mistaken for the Flatiron but is not a theater. Adjusting the question for clarity.)
Miscellaneous Trivia 4
- Which New York City bridge is known for its iconic arches and pedestrian walkway? – The Brooklyn Bridge
- What is the name of the large indoor arena located in Brooklyn? – Barclays Center
- Which public park in Manhattan is known for its Winter Village and ice skating rink? – Bryant Park
- What is the name of the ferry that provides free rides between Manhattan and Staten Island? – The Staten Island Ferry
- Which New York City neighborhood is known for its cobblestone streets and art galleries? – SoHo
Conclusion
There you have it, 140 questions and answers about New York City! Whether you’re a trivia night champion or just looking to learn more about this incredible city, we hope you enjoyed this collection. Keep exploring, keep learning, and stay curious about the Big Apple!