New York in the 1900s Through Amazing Vintage Photos

The 1900s marked New York City’s Progressive Era.

Much of the iconic NYC buildings were constructed during this time. The Flatiron Building was opened in 1902; one year later, the New York Stock Exchange and the Williamsburg Bridge opened. Macy’s Department Store was unveiled in 1902 and remained the world’s largest department store until 2009.

Multiple important subway stations were running throughout the 1900s, making significant progress for the NYC underground subway system that would solidify its place within New York culture and reputation.

Times Square’s iconic “One Times Square” building was finished in 1905; two years later, the first New Year’s Eve ball drop was performed atop the tower. Ziegfeld Follies made their debut on the roof of the New York Theater. NYC’s first taxi cab also began running in 1907.

Take a look at these amazing photos to see what New York really looked like in the 1900s.

Cab stand at Madison Square, New York, circa 1900

Casino Theatre, Broadway, New York, circa 1900

Italian bread peddlers, Mulberry Street, New York, circa 1900

New York from East River, circa 1900

Pell Street, Chinatown, New York, circa 1900

The Bowery near Grand Street, New York, circa 1900

The tracks of the Third Avenue El passing the Bowery Savings Bank, Manhattan, New York, circa 1900

Vanderbilt House, Plaza Hotel and entrance to Central Park on Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1900

St. Paul Building, New York, 1901

Flatiron Building, the Manhattan landmark under construction, New York, circa 1902

Santa Claus on Broadway collecting donations for Volunteers of America, New York, circa 1902

A characteristic sidewalk newsstand, New York, circa 1903

Brooklyn Bridge Terminal, New York, 1903

Cadet Armory, 9th Regiment Coast Artillery, West 14th Street, New York, 1903

Hanover National Bank Building, Lower Manhattan, New York, circa 1903

Manhattan from under the Brooklyn Bridge, New York, circa 1903

South end of Bowery, Coney Island, New York, August 1903

A flower vender's Easter display, Union Square, New York, 1904

A race. Manhanset House. Shelter Island, New York, circa 1904

Brooklyn Navy Yard, view from Sands Street entrance, New York, circa 1904

Gen. Sherman statue at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street. Hotels Netherland, Savoy and St. Regis, New York circa 1904

Longacre Square, soon to be renamed Times Square, New York, circa 1904

Rockaway Beach, Long Island, New York, 1904

A life guard. Brighton Beach, New York, circa 1905

Coney Island, New York, 1905

Dreamland at twilight, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

Flatiron Building, New York, 1905

Grace Church, New York, circa 1905

Johnstown Flood, Coney Island (an attraction commemorating the deadly Pennsylvania disaster of 1889), New York, circa 1905

L Station, Chatham Square, New York, circa 1905

New York, circa 1905

On the beach at Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

Piles of snow on Broadway after storm, New York, 1905

Subway entrance and exit kiosks, East 23rd Street, New York, circa 1905

The Bowery looking east, Rockaway, New York, circa 1905

The miniature railway, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905

Trinity Church, New York, 1905

West 23rd Street, New York, circa 1905

Where the subway is an elevated, New York, circa 1905

14th Street Store, New York, circa 1906

Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, 1906

John Wanamaker store, Broadway and 10th Street, New York, circa 1906

The Metropolitan Life tower, New York, June 1906

Williamsburg Bridge Plaza, Brooklyn, New York, circa 1906

Williamsburg Bridge Plaza, New York, 1906

Brooklyn Bridge, New York, circa 1907

East Twenty-Third Street and Fourth Avenue, New York, 1908

New York Downtown, 1908

Traffic Squad Parade, New York, November 5, 1908

Hôtel Astor, New York, 1909

Knickerbocker Hotel, Broadway & 42nd Street, New York, 1909

Political museums, Union Square, New York, 1909

Panorama of Madison Square, New York, circa 1909