History of NYC - 1890s
The 1890s were a pivotal point in NYC history. Washington Square Arch, Carnegie Hall are built and the New York Public Library established while the U.S. Immigrant Inspection Station begins operating on Ellis Island. The City of Greater New York created, consolidating the existing City of New York with the eastern Bronx, Brooklyn, most of Queens County, and Staten Island.
1890: Aerial View of The Battery
The Port of New York - a bird's eye view from the Battery, looking south.
1898: Dewey Arch
The Dewey Arch was a triumphal arch that stood from 1899 to 1900 at Madison Square in Manhattan. It was erected for a parade in honor of Admiral George Dewey.
1890: Newspaper Row
An aerial photograph of Park Row, also known as Newspaper Row as it became the epicenter of 19th century news.
1890: New York Streetcar
Photograph of commuters waiting to board a New York City streetcar, headed towards 23rd Street and Broadway.
1893: The Terminal, Old Post Office
Photograph of horse drawn trolleys on a snow covered street in Manhattan
1899: The Waldorf Astoria
Photograph of the Waldorf-Astoria built in 1893 on 5th Avenue, south from 35th Street.
1899: Jewish Market on the East Side
Photograph of a busy East side street lined with Jewish markets and filled with pedestrians.
1893: Union Square, Looking Southwest
Aerial photograph above Union Square filled with people and horses and the Lincoln Statue in the foreground.
1894: The Decker Building, Union Square
Photograph of the Decker Building overlooking Union Square. The structure was completed in 1892 for the Decker Brothers piano company, and designed by John H. Edelmann.
1895: Broadway and John Street
Photograph of Broadway near John Street filled with carriages and pedestrians.
1896: Along the Bowery
Photograph showing elevated railroad, delivery wagons, streetcars, buildings and people in lower Manhattan.
1890: Statue of Liberty
Photograph of the Statue of Liberty with her torch illuminating the sky over New York Harbor.
1895: Fulton Ferry Brooklyn Bridge
Photograph of the Fulton Ferry crossing the East River with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.
1898: Brooklyn Bridge Terminal
Photograph of the curved overpass at Brooklyn Terminal, New York & Brooklyn Bridge.
1896: Street Sweeper and Broom
Photograph of a city worker sweeping the street in front of a corner grocery store.
1896: Horse Drawn Ash Cart
Photograph of a horse drawn cart and a man collecting ashes from local furnaces.
1896: Horse Drawn Carts on a Snow Covered Street
Photograph taken for a poster design of a winter scene on a snowy street.
1896: Saint Paul's Church and Astor House
Photograph of a busy street in front of Saint Paul's Church and Astor House.
1896: Grand Central Depot
Photograph of a street scene in front of Grand Central Depot, at the time the largest interior space in the nation.
1897: 16th Street and 6th Avenue
Photograph looking down the tracks of the elevated railroad on 6th Avenue near 16th Street.
1897: Dedication of Grant's Tomb
Photograph of mourners gathering for the dedication of Grant's Tomb taken from the river front.
1897: The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
Photograph of the famous Waldorf-Astoria hotel, taken from East of Fifth Avenue on the North Side of 34th Street.
1899: The Croton Distributing Reservoir
The Croton Aqueduct water system (Murray Hill Reservoir) started construction in 1837 and opened to great fanfare on October 14, 1842.
1897: Columbia College: View of Amsterdam Avenue with No Buildings
An aerial view of Columbia University campus, including Low Library and Milbank Hall.
1896: Men Loading Horse-Drawn Snow Carts
Photograph of the streets after a blizzard, snow carts have been deployed to clear the roads for traffic.
1899: Snow Carts at the river after a Blizzard
Photograph of snow carts lined up next to the river to dump snow after a blizzard.
1899: Street in Harlem After a Blizzard
Photograph of a Harlem street covered in snow after the blizzard of Feb. 13, 1899.
1897: The Glow of Night
Photograph of a rain soaked street, illuminated by streetlamps which are reflected on the ground.