A Picture Comparison of New York City Past and Present
12 Apr 2014
1900: Mott Street has been the center of New York's Chinatown for more than 100 years.
2013: Even today, the buildings remain largely unchanged, with the exception of modern conveniences and signs.
1907: Bowling Green is the oldest public park in NYC, built in 1733.
2013: After suffering neglect after WWII, the park was restored in the '70s and is now one of the most visited places in the city.
1915: The arch and colonnade that welcomes motorists on the Manhattan Bridge was built as a part of the City Beautiful movement "to create moral and civic virtue among urban populations."
2013: After decades of being covered in graffiti, the city made the arch a landmark in 1975, and restored it in the 1990s.
1922: Bryant Park has evolved over the years. Here, a "demonstration garden" is planted on the eastern end of the park.
2013: More than 90 years later, the park is still an urban sanctuary. Note the New York Public Library in the background.
1937: When the 8th Avenue/14th Street subway station opened in 1931, this impressive building was home to the New York Savings Bank.
2013: Today, the neoclassical structure is a CVS pharmacy, and the subway station has an elevator.
1938: A man crosses First Avenue on the Upper East Side during the Great Depression.
2013: The building in the center remains largely untouched, but the UES has markedly transformed with cars, trees, and paved roads.
1942: From the steps of St. Bart's Church, one could see the New York Central Building rise above the other structures on Park Avenue.
2013: Today the building is known as the Helmsley Building, and is dwarfed by Midtown's skyscrapers.
1965: New York's Racquet and Tennis Club on Park Avenue was surrounded by skyscrapers 50 years ago.
2013: The buildings may be taller, but the Racquet and Tennis Club looks the same.
1968: Here's a vintage glimpse of Delancey Street on the Lower East Side, with a view of the Williamsburg Bridge.
2013: Today, Delancey Street is much cleaner and has more trees (though you can still see the Williamsburg Bridge!).
1968: Orchard Street in downtown Manhattan was filled with people and stores.
2013: Those brick buildings are still there, but the street looks much quieter.
1968: The Lower East Side's Essex Street Market was built in the 1930s to house street cart vendors.
2013: Now, the market is run by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and still houses a few dozen stalls.
1968: Here's a look at lunch hour on Nassau Street in the Financial District, with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the right.
2013: There are more cars than people, but the bank is still there.
1968: South Street Seaport market — specifically Schermerhorn Row — was in rough shape before it was taken over by the South Street Seaport museum.
2013: The buildings were renovated in 1983, but The New York Times said the changes made the block "into something flat and dull."
1970: The Chapel of the Good Shepherd was erected on Roosevelt Island in 1888. At the time of this picture, residential complexes were just about to be built on the island.
2013: Today, Roosevelt Island is home to apartments, pharmacies, public parks, and more.
1982: This snapshot shows the Brooklyn Bridge, framed by the Watchtower building in Brooklyn Heights.
2013: Today, this area is thriving thanks to the popularity of tourist attractions like Brooklyn Bridge Park and Grimaldi's Pizza.
Great post!