The Bowery is a neighborhood located in Lower Manhattan that has played an important role in the history of New York City. The area was originally settled by the Dutch in the 17th century and was home to some of the city’s earliest farms and estates. Over time, the neighborhood became a bustling commercial and entertainment district, with theaters, saloons, and dance halls lining its streets. By the mid-19th century, the Bowery had become notorious for its seedier side, with brothels and opium dens proliferating in the area.
Despite its reputation, the Bowery continued to be an important part of New York City’s cultural landscape. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the neighborhood became a center of vaudeville and burlesque entertainment, with theaters like the Bowery Theatre and the Yiddish Art Theatre drawing crowds from across the city. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Bowery was home to a thriving art scene, with artists like Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, and Robert Motherwell setting up studios in the area.
Today, the Bowery has undergone significant changes. Many of its historic theaters and buildings have been demolished or repurposed, and the area has become a hub for high-end retail and dining. However, the neighborhood still retains much of its character and history, with remnants of its past visible in its architecture and street life. The Bowery serves as a reminder of the city’s rich and complex history, and continues to be a vibrant and dynamic part of New York City.
Engraved illustration depicting the corner of Broadway & the Bowery in downtown Manhattan.
Photograph showing elevated railroad, delivery wagons, streetcars, buildings and people in lower Manhattan.
A steam-powered locomotive awaits boarding passengers on the Bowery's elevated train line near Grand Street.
Photograph of a busy scene on the Bowery as pedestrians make their way across the street and under the elevated overpass.
Photograph of Minnie Paster, a 10 year old having to work and tend a newspaper stand at Bowery & Bond
Photograph shows men gathered on sidewalk in front of the Alabama Hotel and Skid Row Bar & Grill in downtown Manhattan.
Photograph of The Bowery and Delancey Street showing cars at a stoplight and signs for the People's Bar, and the Crystal Hotel and Pioneer Hotel in distance.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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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History101.NYC is an ad-free learning resource available to the public at no charge.
This project is dedicated to exploring New York’s fascinating heritage through the restoration of vintage photographs and prints.