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The Key to the City of New York
History
The first occasion a Key to the City was awarded was on June 27, 1702, when Mayor Philip French executed a “Freedom of the City” for Viscount Edward Cornbury, the Governor of New York and New Jersey at the time.
By the middle 1800s, it became customary to award the “Key to the City” as a direct symbol of the City’s wish that a guest feel free to come and go at will.
The key symbolized free entry during a time when admission into New York City was hampered by many legal restrictions, as well as by walls and locked gates.
General Facts
Presented in velvet-colored boxes that say “Facsimile of key made in 1812 for the door of City Hall, New York,” the keys feature the New York City seal and the Mayor’s name on its shaft.
Each gold-plated key is approximately five inches long and bears resemblance the large skeleton key that currently opens the back door of City Hall.
The key is now purely symbolic – it does not open any locks or doors.
The keys are made by Ashburns Engravers in Lower Manhattan and cost $100 per key.
New York Mets Recipients
| August 8, 2007 |
Starting pitcher Tom Glavine in honor of his 300th career victory. |
| April 27, 1999 |
Closer John Franco received a key in honor of his 400th career save. |
| October 28, 1986 |
The 1986 New York Mets received keys in honor of their World Series victory. |
Full List of Keys to the City awarded by Mayor Bloomberg
February 7, 2012 |
New York Giants, Super Bowl Champions |
| November 18, 2011 |
Regis Philbin |
| October 14, 2010 |
Ralph Lauren |
June 10, 2010 |
Anibal Vega Borges, Mayor of Tao Baja, Puerto Rico |
| November 8, 2009 |
Curtis Jones, Commander, USS New York |
| November 8, 2009 |
New York Yankees, World Series Champions |
| September 3, 2009 |
Staten Island South Shore National League Little League Team |
| June 9, 2009 |
Guardian Angel Curtis Sliwa |
| February 9, 2009 |
Crew and flight attendants of US Air Flight 1549: Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, III; First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles; Flight Attendant Sheila Dail; Flight Attendant Doreen Welsh; Flight Attendant Donna Dent |
| May 6, 2008 |
Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland of The Police, contributing proceeds of final concert to City’s “Million Trees” program |
| February 5, 2008 |
New York Giants, Super Bowl Champions |
| January 2, 2008 |
David Letterman |
| November 8, 2007 |
Music Legend Fats Domino in honor of his philanthropic efforts in New Orleans |
| August 16, 2007 |
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, for his 500th career home run |
| August 8, 2007 |
Tom Glavine, New York Met, for his 300th career victory |
| June 4, 2007 |
Francisco Zayas Seijo, Mayor of Municipio de Ponce, Puerto Rico
Edwin Garcia Feliciano, Mayor of Municipio de Camuy, Puerto Rico |
| June 8, 2006 |
Jose Aaron Parga Ojeda, Mayor of Florida, Puerto Rico
Jose A. Santiago Rivera, Mayor of Comerio, Puerto Rico |
| September 25, 2005 |
The Dalai Lama |
| June 8, 2005 |
Abel Nazario Quinonez, Mayor of Yauco, Puerto Rico |
| June 8, 2005 |
Nancy Soderberg, President of the Sister City Program |
| May 12, 2005 |
Nelson Mandela |
| April 27, 2005 |
Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Rome, Italy |
| June 13, 2004 |
Carlos Lopez Rivera, Mayor of Dorado, Puerto Rico |
| May 10, 2004 |
Wang Qishan, Mayor of Beijing, China |
| November 3, 2003 |
New York City Marathon winners: Martin Lel; Margaret Okayo; Kriege Schabort; Cheri Blauwert; Helene Hines; Bogdan Krol |
| June 20, 2003 |
Roger Clemens, New York Yankees, in honor of his 300th career victory |
| February 6, 2003 |
Gabor Demzsky, Mayor of Budapest, Hungary
Roberto Salcedo, Mayor of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Jose Maria Alvarez, Mayor of Madrid, Spain
Amos Masondo, Mayor of Johannesburg, South Africa |
| September 22, 2002 |
Lieutenant General Daniel O’Neill, Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan |
| February 2, 2002 |
Olympic Gold Medal Winners Sarah Hughes and Jimmy Shea |
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