There’s a great PBS Kids website about early New York called Big Apple History. It’s still a site worth visiting, but if you’re looking for something more grown up, then I would suggest the PBS, Ric Burns documentary, NEW YORK: A DOCUMENTARY FILM, a special presentation of AMERICAN EXPERIENCE with over 400 years of New York history. Although it’s not currently on the air, you can still order a copy. Especially check out the Hidden New York resource on the website with its 3-D trip around the city.
Completed just a few weeks prior to the tragic events of 9/11/01, filmmaker, Ric Burns created a very special eighth episode of the series entitled The Center of the World which “paints a portrait of the World Trade Center — culminating in the events of September 11, 2001 and their aftermath.” This episode has its own website and resources.