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Our Story · New York

New York,
since 1624

Postcards, papers and photographs of New York from public archives, woven together by decade. Neighbors fill in the gaps.

1624established
133old images & papers
21recent photos
From New York’s archive · credits on each photo

The story

from WikipediaRead it all ↗

In the pre-Columbian era, the area of present-day New York City was inhabited by Algonquians, including Munsee-speaking Lenape. The homeland of the Lenape, known as Lenapehoking, included the present-day areas of Staten Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, the western portion of Long Island (including Brooklyn and Queens), and the Lower Hudson Valley.

Early historyDutch ruleEnglish ruleAmerican RevolutionPost-revolutionary period and early 19th centuryAmerican Civil WarLate 19th and early 20th centuryLate 20th and early 21st centuries

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

built from the dates on the items below
1624Established
c. 1660Nieuw Amsterdam ofte nue Nieuw Iorx opt't Eylan…Document
1670s2 items · Allard -Totius Neobelgii Nova et Accu…Document
1717Gezichten op het eiland Amsterdam, RP-P-1904-636Document
1726Inwoners van Nieuw Amsterdam, 1726 Nieu Amsterd…Document
1770s4 items · Balthasar Friedrich Leizelt - Destruc…Document
1780s2 items · Fort George, New York. Evacuation 24 …Document
1790s11 items · Portrait of George Henry RemsenDocument
1800s2 items · Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 2…Document
1840s2 items · Mose and LizeCommons
1850s18 items · JamesRDoolittleCommons
1860s4 items · The Bowery, New York City, U.S.ACommons
1870s14 items · Rapelyea House or White Cottage New Y…Commons
1880s6 items · Rynda1883-1922NewYorkCommons
1890s10 items · US 1890s Vanhorne Griffin & Co Emboss…Commons
1900s6 items · Curb market at Broad Street 1902Commons
1910s12 items · Ellis IslandCommons
1920s2 items · Derde eeuwfeest van de stichting van …Commons
1930s21 items · SarahRapaljeTankardCommons
1940s6 items · New YorkLOC
1960sStork Club Blessed Event RoomCommons
1980s6 items · New York Stock ExchangeLOC
1996Times SquareLOC
Help out

Finish New York’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

8 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old viewJamesRDoolittle, 1850: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
By decade

New York, decade by decade

1660s1 paper
Nieuw Amsterdam ofte nue Nieuw Iorx opt't Eylant Man (titel op object), NG-28DocumentNieuw Amsterdam ofte nue Nieuw Iorx opt't Eylant Man (titel…c. 1660
1670s2 papers
Allard -Totius Neobelgii Nova et Accuratissima Tabula (Detail)DocumentAllard -Totius Neobelgii Nova et Accuratissima Tabula (Deta…c. 1674New Amsterdam lately New York retaken by the Netherlanders on 24 Aug 1673DocumentNew Amsterdam lately New York retaken by the Netherlanders …c. 1674
1710s1 paper
Gezichten op het eiland Amsterdam, RP-P-1904-636DocumentGezichten op het eiland Amsterdam, RP-P-1904-6361717
1720s1 paper
Inwoners van Nieuw Amsterdam, 1726 Nieu Amsterdam at New York (titel op object) Les Forces de l'Europe, Asie, Afrique e…DocumentInwoners van Nieuw Amsterdam, 1726 Nieu Amsterdam at New Yo…1726
1770s4 papers
Balthasar Friedrich Leizelt - Destruction of the Royal Statue in New York - Google Art ProjectDocumentBalthasar Friedrich Leizelt - Destruction of the Royal Stat…1771New York 1776 (maritime journal of Robert Raymond) 092631DocumentNew York 1776 (maritime journal of Robert Raymond) 0926311776Remarks on board HMS Chatham off Staten Island 1776 (maritime journal of Robert Raymond) 043133DocumentRemarks on board HMS Chatham off Staten Island 1776 (mariti…1776Trinity Church - Lutheran (1729-1776), Broadway, New York CityDocumentTrinity Church - Lutheran (1729-1776), Broadway, New York C…c. 1776
1780s2 papers
Fort George, New York. Evacuation 24 November 1783 (maritime journal of Robert Raymond) 092631DocumentFort George, New York. Evacuation 24 November 1783 (maritim…1783Laws and Ordinances for New York, printed by Samuel LoudonDocumentLaws and Ordinances for New York, printed by Samuel Loudon1786
1790s11 papers
Portrait of George Henry RemsenDocumentPortrait of George Henry Remsenc. 1790Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 14 December 1794 (818991e0-5796-486c-8569-548a19cebc0d)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 14 December 1794 (81899…1794Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 14 December 1794 (942049f7-464b-4310-8e4c-3bc6b59858d6)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 14 December 1794 (94204…1794Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 18 November 1794 (08740ca6-0dd7-41e3-8901-050b6a1d1686)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 18 November 1794 (08740…1794Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 18 November 1794 (6e5686bc-389e-490e-9bff-fba1d45b1e32)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 18 November 1794 (6e568…1794Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 27 December 1794 (33a941dd-54cc-460e-b5ac-3ca64937e77c)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 27 December 1794 (33a94…1794Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 27 December 1794 (b5c928b2-3823-408f-858c-4b41a8e679fc)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 27 December 1794 (b5c92…1794Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 4 December 1794 (027942a4-25b0-4f3e-94d5-719387a7726e)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 4 December 1794 (027942…1794Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 15 March 1795 (21362310-8925-42fa-a40b-b3cc0b8f081a)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 15 March 1795 (21362310…1795Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 15 March 1795 (fa129884-c945-4de1-9949-833b109d8690)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 15 March 1795 (fa129884…1795Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 18 February 1795 (d99e736f-2b68-4126-9800-12b4d2d58dcd)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 18 February 1795 (d99e7…1795
1800s2 papers
Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 23 February 1802 (e8466d52-79af-4f1f-b977-71b83031a958)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 23 February 1802 (e8466…1802Samuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 23 February 1802 (f85d176c-21d8-4337-b510-284aed4b841b)DocumentSamuel Bartlett to Peleg Wadsworth, 23 February 1802 (f85d1…1802
1840s2 items
Mose and LizeCommonsMose and Lize1848New YorkLOCNew York1849
1850s18 items
JamesRDoolittleCommonsJamesRDoolittle1850Uniformen New Yorker Bürgerwehr um 1850CommonsUniformen New Yorker Bürgerwehr um 18501850New YorkLOCNew York1851Horatio Seymour - Brady-HandysmallCommonsHoratio Seymour - Brady-Handysmall1855Horatio Seymour - Brady-HandysmallCommonsHoratio Seymour - Brady-Handysmall1855Isaac FowlerCommonsIsaac Fowler1855Unsuccessful 1868CommonsUnsuccessful 18681855New YorkCommonsNew York1856City of New YorkLOCCity of New York185639 William England - Barnum's museumCommons39 William England - Barnum's museum185841 William England - Atlantic telegraph jubilee on BroadwayCommons41 William England - Atlantic telegraph jubilee on Broadway1858Remains of Cock Hill Fort (1858)CommonsRemains of Cock Hill Fort (1858)c. 185817 William England - Wall StreetCommons17 William England - Wall Street185918 William England - BroadwayCommons18 William England - Broadway185928 William England - The quayCommons28 William England - The quay185936 William England - New York from Trinity ChurchCommons36 William England - New York from Trinity Church185942 William England - Floating bathsCommons42 William England - Floating baths185943 William England - Ferry boats in the bayCommons43 William England - Ferry boats in the bay1859
1860s4 items
The Bowery, New York City, U.S.ACommonsThe Bowery, New York City, U.S.Ac. 1860Insignia of 11th New York Volunteer Infantry RegimentCommonsInsignia of 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment1861Blackwells Island East River 1862 cropCommonsBlackwells Island East River 1862 crop1862The President's funeral car, on a steam lighter, approacing New York, from Jersey City April 24, 1865CommonsThe President's funeral car, on a steam lighter, approacing…1865
1870s14 items
Rapelyea House or White Cottage New York City 1870CommonsRapelyea House or White Cottage New York City 18701870Rapelyea House or White Cottage New York City1 1870CommonsRapelyea House or White Cottage New York City1 18701870FrancisPBlair-smallCommonsFrancisPBlair-small1871New YorkLOCNew York1873New YorkLOCNew York1873New YorkLOCNew York1873New-York Tribune Building, Printing House SquareLOCNew-York Tribune Building, Printing House Square1873New-York Tribune Building, Printing House SquareLOCNew-York Tribune Building, Printing House Square1873New YorkLOCNew York1874New YorkLOCNew York1874New York woodcut 1876CommonsNew York woodcut 18761876Powelson, Gustavus A. - Greenwich Street Hochbahn (Zeno Fotografie)CommonsPowelson, Gustavus A. - Greenwich Street Hochbahn (Zeno Fot…1876New York From Bergen Hill, HobokenLOCNew York From Bergen Hill, Hoboken1876Old post officeCommonsOld post office1877
1880s6 items
Rynda1883-1922NewYorkCommonsRynda1883-1922NewYork1886–1917Steve Brodie's barCommonsSteve Brodie's barc. 1886George A. Jarvis (cropped)CommonsGeorge A. Jarvis (cropped)1887George A. JarvisCommonsGeorge A. Jarvis1887Herman Wunder, Brooklyn, New York (N. Y.), 722 Fulton Street; W. Faulkner 1899 ICommonsHerman Wunder, Brooklyn, New York (N. Y.), 722 Fulton Stree…1889Herman Wunder, Brooklyn, New York (N. Y.), 722 Fulton Street; W. Faulkner 1899 IICommonsHerman Wunder, Brooklyn, New York (N. Y.), 722 Fulton Stree…1889
1890s10 items
US 1890s Vanhorne Griffin & Co Embossed glass Advertising CoverCommonsUS 1890s Vanhorne Griffin & Co Embossed glass Advertising C…1890sWenzel, Edward - Das Dyckman Haus (Zeno Fotografie)CommonsWenzel, Edward - Das Dyckman Haus (Zeno Fotografie)1892Wenzel, Edward - Das Jumel Herrenhaus (Zeno Fotografie)CommonsWenzel, Edward - Das Jumel Herrenhaus (Zeno Fotografie)1892Howard Pyle - Tailpiece for "The Evolution of New York, II" (was called Peter Stuyvesant) - Google Art ProjectCommonsHoward Pyle - Tailpiece for "The Evolution of New York, II"…1893Wenzel, Edward - Der Harlem Fluss (Zeno Fotografie)CommonsWenzel, Edward - Der Harlem Fluss (Zeno Fotografie)c. 1893Wenzel, Edward - Eingang zum Mount Morris Park (Zeno Fotografie)CommonsWenzel, Edward - Eingang zum Mount Morris Park (Zeno Fotogr…c. 1893Wenzel, Edward - Obere Fifth Avenue (Zeno Fotografie)CommonsWenzel, Edward - Obere Fifth Avenue (Zeno Fotografie)1893Overvolle New Yorkse straat, ca 1900, SFA001008785CommonsOvervolle New Yorkse straat, ca 1900, SFA0010087851895NYC Reference Map ACC 6027MapNYC Reference Map ACC 60271897HauseltadCommonsHauseltad1898
1900s6 items
Curb market at Broad Street 1902CommonsCurb market at Broad Street 19021902Lantern Slide of Hester Street, New York CityCommonsLantern Slide of Hester Street, New York City1903Tug P.R.R. No. 9CommonsTug P.R.R. No. 91904Thompson and Bleecker Streets by George Benjamin LuksCommonsThompson and Bleecker Streets by George Benjamin Luksc. 1905Madison CottageCommonsMadison Cottage1907Immigrant Children, Ellis IslandCommonsImmigrant Children, Ellis Island1908
1910s12 items
Ellis IslandCommonsEllis Island1910Mrs Thomas Hastings coach Colony ClubCommonsMrs Thomas Hastings coach Colony Club1911Noon in East Side factory district, New York, 1912CommonsNoon in East Side factory district, New York, 19121912Sam Schepps 2949637492 631790a5b0 oCommonsSam Schepps 2949637492 631790a5b0 o1912Sam Schepps in 1912 - (cropped)CommonsSam Schepps in 1912 - (cropped)1912Café at the Hotel Metropole inCommonsCafé at the Hotel Metropole in1913Rice Yacht Alberta fullCommonsRice Yacht Alberta full1916US 1916 New York International Coat Company New York to Saltsburg Cover frontCommonsUS 1916 New York International Coat Company New York to Sal…1916US 1916 New York Muphy Hill Hotel Advertising to Hartford VT CoverCommonsUS 1916 New York Muphy Hill Hotel Advertising to Hartford V…1916US 1916 New York city to Middletown commercial Ad CoverCommonsUS 1916 New York city to Middletown commercial Ad Cover1916"Automobile Drivers Do Your Bit^ Drive A Motor Truck for Uncle Sam. Hundreds of men required between the ages of 18 and…Commons"Automobile Drivers Do Your Bit^ Drive A Motor Truck for Un…c. 1917Actors' strikeLOCActors' strike1919
1920s2 items
Derde eeuwfeest van de stichting van New York door de Nederlanders, 1926, NG-2001-17-ECommonsDerde eeuwfeest van de stichting van New York door de Neder…1926Twee foto's van vrouwen op straat in New York Two little girls in blue (titel op object) On Roozevelt Plaza (titel op o…CommonsTwee foto's van vrouwen op straat in New York Two little gi…1926
1930s21 items
SarahRapaljeTankardCommonsSarahRapaljeTankardc. 1930History of civic services in the city ofCommonsHistory of civic services in the city of1936History of civic services in the city ofCommonsHistory of civic services in the city of1936History of civic services in the city ofCommonsHistory of civic services in the city of1936History of civic services in the city ofCommonsHistory of civic services in the city of1936History of civic services in the city ofCommonsHistory of civic services in the city of1936History of civic services in the city ofCommonsHistory of civic services in the city of1936History of civic services in the city ofCommonsHistory of civic services in the city of1936History of civic services in the city ofCommonsHistory of civic services in the city of1936LangstonHughes cropCommonsLangstonHughes crop1936Signs, YorkvilleLOCSigns, Yorkville1937Strike picketsLOCStrike pickets1937Strike picketsLOCStrike pickets1937NYC Manhattan 1938 Franz GrasserCommonsNYC Manhattan 1938 Franz Grasser1938New YorkLOCNew York1938New YorkLOCNew York1938New YorkLOCNew York1938New YorkLOCNew York1938New YorkLOCNew York1938New YorkLOCNew York1938New YorkLOCNew York1938
1940s6 items
New YorkLOCNew York1943New YorkLOCNew York1943New YorkLOCNew York1943New YorkLOCNew York1943New YorkLOCNew York1943New YorkLOCNew York1943
1960s1 item
Stork Club Blessed Event RoomCommonsStork Club Blessed Event Room1960s
1980s6 items
New York Stock ExchangeLOCNew York Stock Exchange1980New York Stock ExchangeLOCNew York Stock Exchange1980New York Stock ExchangeLOCNew York Stock Exchange1980New York World Trade Center ViewLOCNew York World Trade Center View1980Architectural detailsLOCArchitectural details1980Park AvenueLOCPark Avenue1980
1990s1 item
Times SquareLOCTimes Square1996
Today21 photos
BoweryHouseStairsCommonsBoweryHouseStairs2011Anthony P. Damato and fellow Marines, 1943CommonsAnthony P. Damato and fellow Marines, 19432011105 Allen Street - 3-14-05Commons105 Allen Street - 3-14-052011Vallon 5248624371 1a82f71dc7 oCommonsVallon 5248624371 1a82f71dc7 o2010Andrew H Green bench sign jehCommonsAndrew H Green bench sign jeh2010Strike 2990272474 524b6f4c0d oCommonsStrike 2990272474 524b6f4c0d o2009L'Arrive du Prince Quillaume Henry a Nouvelle YorkCommonsL'Arrive du Prince Quillaume Henry a Nouvelle York2009L'Arrive du Prince Quillaume Henry a Nouvelle York (NYPL Hades-1785675-1650660) (cropped)CommonsL'Arrive du Prince Quillaume Henry a Nouvelle York (NYPL Ha…2009El viajero ilustrado, 1878 602134CommonsEl viajero ilustrado, 1878 6021342009Vicinity-of-wards-point-siteCommonsVicinity-of-wards-point-site2008New York City, 17 May 08CommonsNew York City, 17 May 082008GianttickertapeCommonsGianttickertape2008George Washington Martin IICommonsGeorge Washington Martin II2008Dutch in the AmericasCommonsDutch in the Americas2008Dutch Treat Club 859538d5e3CommonsDutch Treat Club 859538d5e32008Dutch Empire 2CommonsDutch Empire 22008Yankee-ferryCommonsYankee-ferry2007White Horse Tavern (New York City) 2007CommonsWhite Horse Tavern (New York City) 20072007Lion sculptureLOCLion sculpture2006Giving out ice in Astoria 3CommonsGiving out ice in Astoria 32006DayGlo1CommonsDayGlo12002

Then & now

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