Curated by Fine Print New York • 315 Madison Avenue • info@history101.nyc.com • 212.619.5446

History of NYC - 1905 to 1910

The City’s magnetic personality continues to attract a growing and culturally diverse population. Travelers, migrants and fugitives would be drawn to its shores from across the globe to take their shot at the American Dream. During this time the transit system would grow exponentially. Two of the city’s largest hubs, Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station, were already beginning to take shape – their construction representing the ambition of the city itself and connecting the colorful tapestry of people who would define the life and vibe in New York for generations to come.

1908: Italian Street Vendors

A few of many street vendors selling their goods at the Italian Feast of San Gennaro, which is still celebrated in a similar manner today.

1905: Blizzard on 23rd Street

Rows of carriages on 23rd Street are blockaded from the January 24th storm which covered the city in 11" of snow.

1908: Wagons Removing Snow

Photograph shows a line of horse-drawn wagons hauling snow after a blizzard in New York City.

1909: New York City Police Department

A group of New York City police officers pose together in front of a precinct.

1909: Chinatown Decorated for New Year

Photograph of Mott Street decorated for New Year, Jan. 21, 1909 - looking toward Port Arthur restaurant.

1907: Macy's Building and Herald Square

Shoppers and commuters fill Herald Square in front of Macy's famous department store.

1907: Union Square Fountain

A close-up view of the Union Square Fountain with the Metropolitan Building in the background.

1909: Hotels from the Lake in Central Park

A photograph shot from the perspective of the lake at Central Park towards the luxury hotels which form the skyline.

1909: Dutch Dancers at The Waldorf

A group of young dancers in traditional Dutch attire dance at the rooftop terrace of The Waldorf Astoria.

1909: Half Moon on The Hudson

Henry Hudsons' vessel, the "Half Moon" is reconstructed and sailed in the river as part of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909.

1908: The Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges

An iconic view of the both East River bridges with downtown Manhattan in the background and plenty of traffic in the East River.

1908: Aerial View of Downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn

Spectacular view, looking east from the Singer Tower - all three East River Bridges are visible from this perspective.

1907: Election Night in Times Square

Voters congregate near the Times Building at the "Great White Way" (Broadway from 42nd to 34th Sts.)


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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is History101.nyc?

Welcome to the History of New York City - A Unique Online Gallery of NYC's Origins, Curated and Digitally Restored by Fine Print New York.

We're opening our archives to present this Collection of Vintage Photos, Historical Images and Rare Lithographs. This Exclusive Series of High Quality Art Prints are only Available for Purchase Exclusively on this Site.

What Time Periods, Eras, Decades of NYC History are available?

We cover a great portion of the city's history, ranging from its earliest days as New Amsterdam to the late 1980s. Artists are currently working on photos from the 90s to present day,

Here's a current list of what is covered:

Dutch Era: When New York Was New Amsterdam

NYC in the 1600s

Georgian Era

NYC in the 1700s • NYC from 1800 to 1850

Victorian Era

NYC in the 1850s • NYC in the 1860s • NYC in the 1870s • NYC in the 1880s

Progressive Era

NYC in the 1890s • NYC from 1900 to 1905 • 1905 to 1910 • 1910 to 1915 • 

World War 1

NYC from 1915 to 1920

Art Deco

NYC from 1920 to 1925 • NYC from 1925 to 1930

Depression Era

NYC from 1930 to 1935 • NYC from 1935 to 1940

World War 2

NYC from 1940 to 1945

MidCentury Modern Era

NYC from 1945 to 1950 • 1950 to 1955 • 1955 to 1960 • 1960 to 1965 • 1965 to 1970

Energy Crisis

NYC from 1970 to 1975 • 1975 to 1980

Reagan Era

NYC from 1980 to 1985 • 1985 to 1990
What is an "art print" and how is it different from a regular poster?

Art prints are engineered to stand out. They are are digital restorations of photographs, lithographs, paintings and other historic works of art. These prints require a higher resolution press than standard posters, and are printed on archival-quality paper or a flat textured wallpaper substrate.

Is an Art Print more expensive than a regular Poster?

Yes, Art prints are typically more expensive than posters. Considering the additional value in both execution and material, along with the exclusive nature of this collection. While many of the images on this site were originally public domain, most of them were damaged or of subpar quality. Our graphic designers have spent countless hours restoring each one to current HD standards.

It is rare to encounter this level of curation, or the restorative drive required to retouch hundreds of photos by hand. There are already tons of online poster shops who gladly sell you cheap prints, but we're definitely not that type of shop and believe our pricing to be a of fair value for the quality being produced.

Discounts for Educational Institutions are available upon inquiry.

Can I License Any of These Images?

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.

Who started History101.nyc?

Joseph Gornail, printer/photographer and founder of Fine Print New York. Joseph grew up in SoHo, Manhattan and is part of a long lineage of NYC printers, learning the family trade from his grandfather. While working for Dolo Records/Stretch Armstrong in 1996, Joseph founded All City Marketing & Printing, and in 1999 Co-Founded the legendary street wear company "Orchard Street " with lifelong friends Benjamin Holloway and Greig Bennett. Fine Print NYC was established in 2004 with a Nike project being the launchpad for a commercial printing company that has not only survived, but thrived in the digital age.

Steven Garcia, designer/illustrator and creative director of Fine Print New York. Born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Steven attended Fashion Industries High School and F.I.T. before building a successful career at Saatchi & Saatchi for as a professional retoucher and storyboard artist in 1995. Steven started ShinyDesign in 1998 and partnered with Fine Print in 2004 as the exclusive design firm for the company. Steven has independently worked on major advertising campaigns for many brands over the years, such as Snapple, The Waldorf Astoria and Sony to name a few.

Together, Joseph & Steven are responsible for the curation and direction of the History101.nyc project, which has been under development since 2006. They have a long history of collaborating together, going back as far as 2001 when Joseph was gallery manager and Steven was a curator at The New York City Urban Experience, an art gallery & museum that was located at 85 South Street and owned by Mike Saes of the Nike Bridge Runners and True Yorkers.

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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.