History of NYC - 1970 to 1975
In the early 1970s a large movement of residents to the suburbs created a fiscal crisis in New York. Many residential buildings fell into disrepair, or lay in ruins throughout the city’s more marginalized neighborhoods where crime became an increasing concern. Despite its adversities, the city continues to make strides. The first NYC Marathon is run, making it the largest in the world. The West Village begins its annual tradition of the Halloween Parade and LGBT Pride March. The city adds staples such as B&H Photo, CBGB music club, Gray’s Papaya, and Times Square TKTS booth.
1974: South Street Seaport from Above
Aerial view of the East River showing Piers 17 and 18, South Street Seaport at Fulton Street.
1971: World Trade Center Scale Model at Port Authortiy
Officials of New York's Port Authority discussing office space with a scale model of New World Trade Center in background.
1971: McGraw Hill Building Construction
1251 Avenue of the Americas, formerly known as the Exxon Building, is a skyscraper on Sixth Avenue (also known as Avenue of the Americas), between 49th and 50th Streets, in Manhattan.
1971: Aerial View of World Trade Center Construction
Overhead view of lower Manhattan with World Trade Center & other construction in progress.
1971: Building the World Trade Center Lobby
Photograph of the interior of the World Trade Center Lobby under construction.
1971: McGraw Hill Building Construction, Looking North
Elevated perspective of the McGraw Hill Building construction. The Empire State Building and midtown skyline are visible in the distance.
1971: Twin Towers Under Construction
The construction of World Trade Center 1 and 2, colloquially known as the Twin Towers.
1973: West Side Highway
Photograph looking south on Westside Highway at Pier 25, with the World Trade Center visible in the distance.
1974: Subway Token Booth
Photograph of passengers waiting in line to buy tokens at a subway station booth.
1974: Subway Tokens
The first subway token change occurred in 1970 when the fare was raised to 30 cents and 50 million tokens were minted.
1973: Graffiti Covered 1 Train to South Ferry
Photograph of a graffiti covered 1 Train at the 125th Street Station on its way to South Ferry.
1974: City Sewage Flowing into East River
Aerial photograph of untreated sewage spilling into the East River along 79th Street and The FDR Drive.
1974: Newtown Creek Sewage Treatment Plant
Photograph of the Newtown Creek Sewage Treatment Plant in Brooklyn, which began operation in 1967 and currently treats 18% of the City's wastewater.
1974: Houston Street between Lafayette and Broadway
Photograph of wall paintings on Houston Street which would grace the backdrop of many films and mark the style of the era.
1973: Rush Hour Traffic in Times Square
Photograph of gridlock traffic in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, on 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.
1973: Manhattan Taxi Cab
Photograph of a Manhattan taxi driver picking up a fare. By 1973 the city had over 1,700 active cabs.
1973: Downtown Manhattan Cab Driver
Photograph of a taxi driver with his arm hanging outside the window in Downtown Manhattan traffic.
1974: Manhattan Skyline from The BQE
Photograph of a sun-drenched Manhattan skyline, taken from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.
1975: View Through a Park Avenue Window
A nocturnal cityscape of skyscrapers and lights captured through an open window on Park Avenue.