![]() And for visiting kings, it was a sign of both deference, but also autonomy. For local heroes, it was a sign of respect. For major merchants, it was to be able to enter the city without having to pay a toll. When a visiting hero or dignitary came to the town, the people would make an elaborate ceremony, and also present them with a key. In medieval times, major cities would naturally be fortified by walls and gates for the people’s protection. The historical purpose of keys to the city was actually a rather practical one, that has a lot to do with how cities were constructed in the past. At the time, then-Mayor Philip French executed a “Freedom of the City” for Viscount Edward Cornbury, who was the governor of New York and New Jersey.īut the question remains: what does a key to the city actually do? The Purpose Of Keys To The City The first “key to the city” ever awarded in America was in New York City, all the way back in 1702. One of the stock images that pop culture has given us when it comes to people being honored is the idea of having a “key to the city.” Generally, a famous native son/daughter or someone who managed to have a profound, helpful impact generally gets a big ceremony in their honor, capped off with a mayor or local dignitary providing them with an over-sized key. ![]()
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