New York City Hall, located in the Civic Center of Lower Manhattan, is the oldest city hall in the U.S. still serving its original governmental functions. Constructed between 1803 and 1812, it houses the Mayor’s office and the New York City Council chambers. The building, adjacent to the extensive Manhattan Municipal Building, is a National Historic Landmark and a designated city landmark.
The site’s history traces back to the 17th century with New Amsterdam’s first City Hall near Pearl Street. The current City Hall, replacing a second structure at Wall and Nassau Streets, was designed by Joseph-François Mangin and John McComb Jr., following a competition in 1802. The building’s construction faced challenges, including financial limitations and yellow fever, but opened officially in 1812. Over time, it underwent multiple renovations and restorations, incorporating various architectural styles and influences.
City Hall has been a focal point for major events, including the 1857 police riot and the 2003 political assassination of Councilman James E. Davis. The 21st-century restoration of the building, managed by Hill International, cost nearly $150 million and took five years. The architecture blends French Renaissance with English neoclassicism, and its design influenced subsequent civic structures like the Tweed Courthouse.
The building’s exterior features a central pavilion, wings, a columned entrance portico, and a domed tower. The interior is marked by a grand marble stairway, Corinthian columns, and a coffered dome. Significant rooms include the Governor’s Room, hosting artifacts like George Washington’s desk, and the Blue Room for official press conferences. City Hall Park, part of the Civic Center neighborhood, includes the historic, now-closed City Hall subway station, showcasing early 20th-century design.
Explore the transformation of 17th-century New Amsterdam into New York, highlighting key events in commerce, slave trade, and colonial rule.
Explore George Washington's 1789 inaugural address at NYC's Federal Hall, a landmark event underscoring the city's role as the first U.S. capital
Explore the 1802 design competition for NYC City Hall, an event marking the city's growth and architectural ambitions in the early 19th century
Illustration of pedestrians walking near City Hall. Saint Paul's chapter is visible in the background skyline.
A photograph of Manhattan's City Hall. Taken by A.R. Waud in the winter of 1855.
Aerial photograph of City Hall with its neighborhood buildings and surrounding park in downtown Manhattan.
Explore the City Hall Loop, where NYC's subway saga began. Discover the station that sparked a transportation revolution and its enduring legacy
A bird's eye view of the Woolworth Building towering above City Hall Park on a partly cloudy day.
Photograph shows view of Broadway looking south from above the 135 highway with large skyscraper in distance and subway tracks emerging from the ground.
Photograph of Brooklyn's City Hall, located at209 Joralemon Street, Kings County New York.
Photograph of New York City Hall and City Hall Park taken from the southeast.
Photograph of the tile-clad control room at City Hall Subway Station in downtown Manhattan.
Explore NYC's transformation over 250 million years, from its origins in Pangea to becoming the world's most famous and dynamic city today
Welcome to "History101.NYC," an unparalleled online gallery featuring the beginnings of New York City, exquisitely restored by the experts at Fine Print New York. This exclusive collection vividly resurrects key historical moments, celebrating the city's rich history and diverse cultural heritage. Each meticulously crafted piece in our gallery offers a genuine look into NYC's past, embodying exceptional artistic skill and meticulous attention to detail.
Dive into our archives for a selection of exclusive, premium-quality art prints, encompassing a range of vintage photos, historical images, and rare lithographs unique to our site. These curated artworks narrate the dynamic evolution of the Big Apple, providing history enthusiasts and art collectors with a rare opportunity to own a part of NYC's illustrious legacy. Don't miss the chance to explore and acquire these captivating representations of New York City's historical journey.
Joseph Gornail, a printer/photographer and founder of Fine Print New York, grew up in SoHo, Manhattan. Part of a long lineage of NYC printers, he learned the craft of printing as a teenager. Joseph's pivotal role in the New York printing industry began while working for Dolo Records/Stretch Armstrong in 1996. He then founded All City Marketing & Printing, and in 1999, co-founded the iconic streetwear brand "Orchard Street" with Benjamin Holloway and Greig Bennett. In 2004, Joseph established Fine Print NYC, a top-tier commercial printing company in New York. It launched with a major project for Nike, showcasing resilience and innovation in the digital age.
Steven Garcia, esteemed designer/illustrator and creative director at Fine Print New York, hails from Bushwick, Brooklyn. An alumnus of Fashion Industries High School and F.I.T., Steven's impressive career trajectory includes his tenure as a sought-after professional retoucher and storyboard artist at Saatchi & Saatchi in 1995. His entrepreneurial spirit led to the inception of ShinyDesign in 1998, later aligning with Fine Print in 2004 as their primary design partner. Steven's portfolio boasts collaborations with high-profile brands like Snapple, The Waldorf Astoria, and Sony, making him a prominent figure in New York's advertising and design landscape.
Together, Joseph & Steven spearhead the History101.nyc project, a groundbreaking digital archive since 2006. Their longstanding partnership dates back to 2001, when Joseph managed The New York City Urban Experience, an influential art gallery & museum at 85 South Street, and Steven curated, both contributing to New York City's vibrant cultural scene. This venue, owned by Mike Saes of the Nike Bridge Runners and True Yorkers, was a cornerstone for urban art and history enthusiasts.
We cover a vast span of New York City's history, from its inception as New Amsterdam to the vibrant late 1980s. Our artists are actively working on expanding our collection to include photos from the 90s up to the present day.
Here's our current coverage list, showcasing the city's evolution:
Each period is richly represented through a variety of art mediums, offering a comprehensive and immersive historical journey of NYC. This chronological approach provides enthusiasts and scholars a unique lens into the city's architectural, cultural, and social developments.
There are currently 792 photos, lithographs, illustrations and maps on this site. Each one has been digitally restored and cleaned up by hand, which makes this collection truly unique.
Digital licenses are available for educational institutions (schools, universities, non-profit organizations). Please contact legal@fineprintnyc.com to discuss conditions for licensing.
NOTE: Any form of commercialization or redistribution of these images, either as tangible goods or third party licenses, is expressly forbidden.
History101.nyc is an ad-free and non-profit learning resource. We do not sell prints of these images. All operational costs are covered by Fine Print NYC
Absolutely! Feel free to send us an email with a preview of the image and we will let you know if it's a good fit for the archives.
We welcome any feedback that you may have. If it proves to be historically accurate the changes will be reflected on the site shortly after our correspondence.
We have collaborated with NYC's Municipal Archives, The Tenemant Museum, Bronx Historical Society and a number of prominent NYC photographers to produce a series of limited edition postcards which free of charge, but only available via street distribution, primarily in Manhattan.
Yes, we can repair, restore and cleanup your old family photos, slides and negatives. You can either send us the digital files or the original photos to be professionally scanned.
We can restore just about any level of damage or signs of aging, within reason. As long as most of the photo is intact we cn work with it. The one flaw we cannot fix is source material that is blurry. A poorly take photo can only be improved so much.
315 Madison Avenue • NYC 10017 • (212)619-5446 • art@fineprintnyc.com
History101.NYC is an ad-free learning resource available to the public at no charge.
This project is dedicated to exploring New York’s fascinating heritage through the restoration of vintage photographs and prints.