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 - 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.
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.
Artist Credit: Dan McCoy. Reprinted with permission. The National Archives
1973: Manhattan Taxi Cab
Photograph of a Manhattan taxi driver picking up a fare. By 1973 the city had over 1,700 active cabs.
Artist Credit: Dan McCoy. Reprinted with permission. The National Archives
1973: Downtown Manhattan Cab Driver
Photograph of a taxi driver with his arm hanging outside the window in Downtown Manhattan traffic.
Artist Credit: Dan McCoy. Reprinted with permission. The National Archives
1974: Manhattan Skyline from The BQE
Photograph of a sun-drenched Manhattan skyline, taken from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.
Artist Credit: Danny Lyon. Reprinted with permission. The National Archives
1975: View Through a Park Avenue Window
A nocturnal cityscape of skyscrapers and lights captured through an open window on Park Avenue.
Artist Credit: Balthazar Korab. Reprinted with permission. Library of CongressNext Chapter: History of NYC - 1975 to 1980
All of the misfortune and poverty of the early 1970's would come to a head in the latter part of the decade. The city faced its darkest hours as it continued to deteriorate into... Continue Reading