History of NYC - 1935 to 1940

The Great Depression has come and gone, and the city is slowly returning to life. Rockefeller Center was built and the American Ballet Theatre was opened. The High School of Music & Art was also spearheaded by popular mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia – a sign and symbol of the city’s investment in its youth. New York also would continue to establish its legacy as a major world center with the opening of the Ford Foundation Headquarters and the first World’s Fair.

1937: Brooklyn Bridge, Pier 21

Photograph of trucks and wagons parked on Pier 21 at the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side.

1935: Henry Street and the Downtown Skyline

A street level view of Henry Street and Manhattan's growing skyline. City Hall and the Woolworth Building are visible in the distance.

1935: Jefferson Market

Photograph of Jefferson Market Court on Sixth Avenue and West 10th Street.

1937: The George Washington Bridge

Photograph shows inbound and outbound traffic at the Manhattan side entrance of the George Washington Bridge, which was built in 1927.

1936: Traffic at Herald Square

An overhead view of Herald Square the corner of 34th Street and Broadway showing cars, pedestrians and elevated railroad tracks in the foreground.

1935: The Chanin Building, Midtown Manhattan

Photograph of the Chanin Building and midtown Manhattan from a bird's eye perspective, taken from the Chrysler Building.

1937: Empire State Building at Night

Photograph of the Empire State Building and surrounding skyscrapers illuminated at night.

1935: Manhattan Bridge Recreation Area

Photograph of a Recreation Area with various boats docked in front with the Manhattan Bridge in the background.

1938: Harlem-125th Street and 7th Avenue

Photograph of traffic and pedestrians on the corner of 125th Street and 7th Avenue in Harlem.

1939: 47th Street and 5th Avenue

Photograph of Fifth Avenue traffic approaching 47th Street in the middle of the day.

1939: Entrance Plaza to Holland Tunnel

Aerial photograph of cars and toll booths at the Entrance Plaza to the Holland Tunnel.

1939: Outlet From Holland Tunnel At Varick Street

Phtograph of cars exiting the Holland Tunnel on Varick Street, looking south.

1939: Saint Patrick's Cathedral

Photograph of New Yorkers waiting for an uptown bus in front of Saint Patrick's Cathedral.

1939: The Woolworth Building and City Hall Park

A bird's eye view of the Woolworth Building towering above City Hall Park on a partly cloudy day.

Next Chapter: 1940 to 1945

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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:

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.

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.

History of NYC - 1935 to 1940

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Frequently Asked Questions

Dutch Era: When New York Was New Amsterdam

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Victorian Era

Progressive Era

World War 1

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Depression Era

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