History101.NYC is an ad-free learning resource available to the public at no charge. The project is dedicated to exploring New York’s fascinating past. We restore vintage photographs and prints that document the City's history and heritage. We also research the natural forces that shaped the environment, along with the people who formed the landscape and culture.
History of NYC - 1860s
The 1860s were a time of reconstruction after the Civil War in 1865. The nation completed its first transcontinental railroad in 1868, the same year NYC completed its the first elevated train. This era also marked the beginning of the Skyscraper Age which would define the skyline for ages to come.
1868: A Bird's Eye View of Manhattan
An artist's panoramic illustration where lower Manhattan, New Jersey and both Hudson and the East Rivers, Brooklyn and Queens are visible in the distance.
Artist Credit: Unknown. Reprinted with permission.
1867: Brooklyn Bridge Under Construction
Photograph show men on the scaffolds during the construction of what was known at the time as the Great East River Bridge.
Artist Credit: Unknown. Reprinted with permission.
1860: Jack Frost in Brooklyn
Photograph of a frozen fountain in a Brooklyn neighborhood during the winter.
Artist Credit: Deloss Barnum. Reprinted with permission.
1865: Aerial View of Broadway
Photograph shows traffic and businesses along Broadway, one of the busiest streets in the city. Taken by George Stacy in 1865.
Artist Credit: George Stacy. Reprinted with permission.
1860: Instantaneous Broadway View
A slightly elevated perspective of a bustling street known as Broadway, which remains a hub of commerce and culture to this day.
Artist Credit: Unknown. Reprinted with permission.
1865: Broadway and the Bank of the Republic, NYC
Photograph taken in 1865 shows the "National Bank of the Republic" (NBR) surrounded by other commercial buildings, pedestrians and traffic on Broadway.
Artist Credit: George Stacy. Reprinted with permission.
1860: View of Chatham Square
A photograph of Chatham Square shows storefronts, pedestrians and horse drawn wagons.
Artist Credit: Unknown. Reprinted with permission.
1865: Aerial View of General Worth Square
Aerial View of General Worth Square on 25th Street between Broadway and Fifth Avenue. It is the second oldest monument in any New York City park.
Artist Credit: George Stacy. Reprinted with permission.
1860: Police Officers in Uniform
Group portrait of policemen, standing in rows in front of a Metropolitan building with their hands crossed in front of them and guns resting at their sides.
Artist Credit: Silas A. Holmes. Reprinted with permission.
1860: Aerial View of Union Square
A view of 14th Street and 4th Avenue looking northwest over the Washington's Equestrian Statue at Union Square, New York City.
Artist Credit: Surdam & White. Reprinted with permission.
1863: Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street
The Church of the Ascension is an Episcopal church in the Diocese of New York. It was completed in 1840-41, the first church to be built on Fifth Avenue.
Artist Credit: George Stacy. Reprinted with permission.
1863: Trinity Church
An early photograph of Trinity Church on Broadway next to Wall Street. Taken by George Stacy in 1863.
Artist Credit: George Stacy. Reprinted with permission.
1869: Scene of Squatters Living near Central Park
An artist's rendering of Squatters near Central Park living among farm animals in their shacks.
Artist Credit: Celia Orgel. Reprinted with permission.
1865: Prospect Rock at Prospect Park
Photograph of a man in a suit perched atop one of the prominent rock formations at Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
Artist Credit: Unknown. Reprinted with permission.
1865: Hudson River Highlands
This amazing photograph of the Hudson River in the year 1865 gives us a glimpse into the ancient topography of New York City.
Artist Credit: John Coates Browne. Reprinted with permission.Next Chapter: History of NYC - 1870s
In 1870, Long Island City was formed in Queens. Four years later, New York City annexed the West Bronx, west of the Bronx River. This era would come to be known as "the Gilded A... Continue Reading