The idea that medieval people did not wash is a common historical myth. In reality, hygiene was highly valued, and people in the Middle Ages bathed much more frequently than modern popular culture suggests. Public bathhouses were a staple of city life, serving as social hubs where people could get clean, socialize, and even enjoy meals. For those who couldn't afford a bathhouse, washing daily with a basin and a cloth (a "sponge bath") was the standard practice. Medical manuals of the time, such as the Regimen sanitatis, explicitly emphasized that keeping the body free of "dirt and grime" was essential for good health. The "unwashed" reputation likely stems from the later Tudor and Elizabethan eras, when fears that hot water opened the pores to the plague led to a decline in full-immersion bathing in favor of dry-rubbing with linen. In the 2026 view of history, medieval people are recognized for their ingenuity in maintaining cleanliness using herbal soaps, tooth-cleaning twigs, and public plumbing systems.
The "big monument" usually refers to the Statue of Liberty National Monument, a 305-foot copper icon that has stood on Liberty Island since 1886. A gift from France, "Lady Liberty" is recognized globally as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. Another "titan" of the skyline is the Empire State Building, which, while technically an office building, functions as a monolithic monument to Art Deco design and American ambition; it was the world's tallest building for 40 years. For a 2026 visitor, "The Monument" means a ferry ride from Battery Park to both Liberty Island and its neighbor, Ellis Island, where the National Museum of Immigration tells the story of the millions who arrived in the U.S. seeking a new life. Whether you are climbing the 162-step spiral staircase to her crown or viewing her from the water, the Statue remains the definitive emblem of New York City and the nation.