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History of City Hall in Pictures (1676 - 1986)

New York City Hall is the seat of New York City government, located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, between Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. Constructed from 1803 to 1812, the building is the oldest city hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as the office of the Mayor of New York City and the chambers of the New York City Council.

Illustration of the old Great Dock near City Hall, one of the primary ports welcoming travelers and merchants to the New York Harbor.

1676: New York City Hall and The Great Dock

Illustration of the old Great Dock near City Hall, one of the primary ports welcoming travelers and merchants to the New York Harbor.

Painting of George Washington delivering his inaugural address in the old City Hall in the Spring of 1789.

1789: George Washington at City Hall

Painting of George Washington delivering his inaugural address in the old City Hall in the Spring of 1789.

A conceptual sketch of a design proposal for New York's City Hall by architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe.

1802: City Hall Design Concept

A conceptual sketch of a design proposal for New York's City Hall by architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe.

Illustration of pedestrians walking near City Hall. Saint Paul's chapter is visible in the background skyline.

1827: Street Scene near City Hall

Illustration of pedestrians walking near City Hall. Saint Paul's chapter is visible in the background skyline.

Black and white illustration of City Hall in New York.

1830: City Hall, New York

Black and white illustration of City Hall in New York.

An engraved perspective of City Hall in New York taken from Wall Street.

1830: City Hall

An engraved perspective of City Hall in New York taken from Wall Street.

An engraved perspective of City Hall in New York taken from Wall Street.

1830: City Hall

An engraved perspective of City Hall in New York taken from Wall Street.

An illustrated view of City Hall and the park fountain.

1846: City Hall

An illustrated view of City Hall and the park fountain.

A photograph of Manhattan's City Hall. Taken by A.R. Waud in the winter of 1855.

1855: City Hall, Manhattan

A photograph of Manhattan's City Hall. Taken by A.R. Waud in the winter of 1855.

Aerial photograph of City Hall with its neighborhood buildings and surrounding park in downtown Manhattan.

1880: New York City Hall

Aerial photograph of City Hall with its neighborhood buildings and surrounding park in downtown Manhattan.

Aerial photograph of City Hall Park and surrounding buildings.

1900: City Hall Park

Aerial photograph of City Hall Park and surrounding buildings.

Construction underway at the City Hall Loop. In 1904, the first subway train departed from City Hall station with Mayor McClellan at the controls.

1904: City Hall Subway Station Under Construction

Construction underway at the City Hall Loop. In 1904, the first subway train departed from City Hall station with Mayor McClellan at the controls.

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

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.

Photograph shows view of Broadway looking south from above the 135 highway with large skyscraper in distance and subway tracks emerging from the ground.

1952: Aerial View of City Hall Park

Photograph shows view of Broadway looking south from above the 135 highway with large skyscraper in distance and subway tracks emerging from the ground.

Photograph of Brooklyn's City Hall, located at209 Joralemon Street, Kings County New York.

1981: Brooklyn City Hall

Photograph of Brooklyn's City Hall, located at209 Joralemon Street, Kings County New York.

Photograph of New York City Hall and City Hall Park taken from the southeast.

1981: City Hall from the Southeast

Photograph of New York City Hall and City Hall Park taken from the southeast.

Photograph of New York City Hall's North elevation and City Hall Park.

1981: City Hall Park

Photograph of New York City Hall's North elevation and City Hall Park.

Photograph of the tile-clad control room at City Hall Subway Station in downtown Manhattan.

1986: City Hall Subway Station Control Room

Photograph of the tile-clad control room at City Hall Subway Station in downtown Manhattan.


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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
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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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