This exhibit created by the New York Botanical Garden will show us what our city looked like over 400 years ago, long before skyscrapers, sidewalks, and streets ever existed! Before New York, there was nature. After New York, there will also be nature. Nature was, is, and forever will be a co-creator of the city we call home. The more closely we align our lives with the ways in which nature operates, the longer our city will endure and the richer and more profound our lives will become. To see the nature of the place we now call the City of New York, ecologist Dr. Eric W. Sanderson and colleagues have spent more than 25 years researching the original landscape of New York City, and recreating it with panoramic images, digital soundscapes, and much more. Dr. Sanderson will share the ecological history of Queens with us when "Before New York" arrives at Central Library this summer! Experience the exhibit and programs at Central Library from July 25 - August 23.