YMCA of Greater New York

History

• 1844: YMCA is founded in London.
• 1852: New York Association forms.
• 1853: Brooklyn Association forms.
• 1857: New York and Brooklyn YMCAs offer the first gym classes at YMCA.
• 1862: Robert Ross McBurney becomes first paid staff member of New York Association.
• 1869: First “purpose-built” YMCA building opens at Twenty-Third Street and Fourth Avenue, containing a gymnasium to house “physical” work; first YMCA evening high school classes are held in this new building.
• 1882: Brooklyn Association takes boys on first camping excursion.
• 1885: New Brooklyn Central Branch on Fulton Street features first indoor pool in a YMCA.
• 1889: Dr. Luther Gulick, YMCA Physical Director, introduces concept of unity of spirit, mind, and body.
• 1895: Permanent Council on Educational Work established at New York YMCA; First Association Business Schools and Day Institute for Young Men opens at Twenty-Third Street.
• 1896: West Side Branch opens on Fifty-Seventh Street, become the first in New York to house a dormitory.
• 1910: YMCA opens Ellis Island Branch to reach new immigrants at port of entry.
• 1915: Brooklyn YMCA opens new Central Branch, the “largest YMCA in the world.”
• 1916: McBurney School a preparatory institution for boys, holds first sessions.
• 1923: Brooklyn hosts first National YMCA Swimming Championships.
• 1934: West Side YMCA admits its first woman member.
• 1943: National Council of YMCAs rules that Associations must open membership to people of all races.
• 1946: YMCA leader John R. Mott awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
• 1947: Jackie Robinson becomes first African-American major-league baseball player and signs on as a coach for boys at Harlem YMCA.
• 1957: New York and Brooklyn and Queens Associations merge as YMCA of Greater New York.
• 1962: YMCA appoints first executive for health and fitness.
• 1964: Harlem is first YMCA residence to house women.
• 1965: Physical fitness clinics inaugurated; West Side Branch offers nursery program, one of the first YMCA child care initiatives.
• 1968: Association introduces Youth Fitness program, endorsed by President’s Council.
• 1971: First New York City Marathon, organized at West Side Y, is staged in Central Park.
• 1978: The McBurney Branch is featured in the Village People's "YMCA" music video.
• 1982: New York is “largest YMCA in the world” with 21 branches
• 1989: YMCA becomes city’s largest non-governmental child care provider.
• 1991: Junior Knicks, Junior Mets programs launches.
• 1996: Global Teens sends first groups of Y youth abroad.
• 2001: YMCA offers emergency assistance following 9/11 attacks and administers aid reaching $2.4 million for families of victims and rescue workers; YMCA also commits volunteers and resources to aid the rescue and recovery effort and the West Side Y provides more than 7,000 room nights to rescue workers.
• 2004: YMCA launches Pioneering Healthier Communities project.
• 2006: YMCA celebrates 100 years of group swimming instruction.
• 2008: Strong Kids Card program launches.
• 2013: Coney Island YMCA branch opens, with art gym and aquatic center.
• 2014: Rockaway YMCA branch opens, and houses the largest NYC Y aquatic center to date.