Curated by Joseph A. Gornail & Steven D. Garcia of Fine Print New York • 315 Madison Avenue • Email Us • 212.619.5446

History of Brooklyn Bridge in Pictures (1867 - 1983)

The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Photograph show men on the scaffolds during the construction of what was known at the time as the Great East River Bridge.

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.

An early photograph of the recently opened Brooklyn Bridge promenade - a much needed connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

1883: Entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Promenade

An early photograph of the recently opened Brooklyn Bridge promenade - a much needed connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Photograph of East River boats passing underneath the Brooklyn Bridge overpass.

1885: Under The Brooklyn Bridge

Photograph of East River boats passing underneath the Brooklyn Bridge overpass.

Photograph of pedestrians walking the Promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge, New York City.

1888: The Brooklyn Bridge Promenade

Photograph of pedestrians walking the Promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge, New York City.

Photograph of the Fulton Ferry crossing the East River with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.

1895: Fulton Ferry Brooklyn Bridge

Photograph of the Fulton Ferry crossing the East River with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.

Photograph of boats in the East River docked near the Brooklyn Bridge.

1896: View of Brooklyn Bridge

Photograph of boats in the East River docked near the Brooklyn Bridge.

Photograph of a the trolley tracks on the Brooklyn Bridge. A city worker is seen cleaning the platform on the left while commuters are seen walking on the right.

1898: Brooklyn Bridge Trolley

Photograph of a the trolley tracks on the Brooklyn Bridge. A city worker is seen cleaning the platform on the left while commuters are seen walking on the right.

Various Companies Operated Local Trolley Lines over the Brooklyn Bridge.

1898: Brooklyn Bridge Trolley Station

Various Companies Operated Local Trolley Lines over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Photograph of the curved overpass at Brooklyn Terminal, New York & Brooklyn Bridge.

1898: Brooklyn Bridge Terminal

Photograph of the curved overpass at Brooklyn Terminal, New York & Brooklyn Bridge.

A perspective of Brooklyn from the Brooklyn Bridge, framed by a B.M.T. train and commuters in 1900.

1900: Brooklyn Bridge, New York

A perspective of Brooklyn from the Brooklyn Bridge, framed by a B.M.T. train and commuters in 1900.

Manhattan commuters flock near the entrance to the pedestrian walkway and elevated train station of the Brooklyn Bridge.

1905: Manhattan Entrance to Brooklyn Bridge

Manhattan commuters flock near the entrance to the pedestrian walkway and elevated train station of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Aerial photograph of downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge spanning the East River.

1915: Brooklyn Bridge

Aerial photograph of downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge spanning the East River.

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

1937: Brooklyn Bridge, Pier 21

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

Aerial photograph looking across the East River towards Brooklyn from Manhattan's perspective.

1954: A View across the Brooklyn Bridge

Aerial photograph looking across the East River towards Brooklyn from Manhattan's perspective.

Photograph shows cars parked along empty street and street signs with the Brooklyn Bridge overpass in the background.

1956: Brooklyn Bridge Overpass

Photograph shows cars parked along empty street and street signs with the Brooklyn Bridge overpass in the background.

View looking East of the Brooklyn Bridge, spanning the East River between Park Row, Manhattan and Sands Street, Brooklyn.

1978: Aerial View of the Brooklyn Bridge

View looking East of the Brooklyn Bridge, spanning the East River between Park Row, Manhattan and Sands Street, Brooklyn.

Aerial photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge over the East River.

1978: Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan Skyline

Aerial photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge over the East River.

Photograph of the the Brooklyn Bridge and Downtown Manhattan skyline illuminated at night.

1983: Brooklyn Bridge at Night

Photograph of the the Brooklyn Bridge and Downtown Manhattan skyline illuminated at night.

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History of NYC - 10,000+ Years Ago

Learn all about NYC’s distant past as "Mannahatta" or the "Island of Many Hills".
Research the natural forces that shaped the environment, along with the people who formed the landscape and culture.


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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
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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