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March 12, 2025

30 Stunning Photos of New York Street Scenes From the Early 1940s

New York in the early 1940s was a city in the midst of transformation. It was a time of both war and change, as the world grappled with the effects of World War II. The city’s skyline, already iconic, rose even higher as skyscrapers were still being built. The economy was booming thanks to the war effort, and industries thrived with the production of arms and materials for the military.

Despite the war, the city was alive with optimism, as people hurried about their business, yet there was a palpable sense of unity in the air, whether through the crowds at war bond rallies or shared moments of quiet reflection in the midst of the rush.

Take a look at these stunning photos to see what New York street scenes looked like from the early 1940s.

Looking south along west side of Greenwich Street toward Battery over elevated structure, photo by Stanley P. Mixon, New York, September 7, 1940

Collier's House at PEDAC, New York City, photo by Gottscho-Schleisner, July 15, 1940

Girl at gasoline pump, New York, photo by Royden J. Dixon, 1940

Sachs Quality Furniture Inc., 150th Street & Third Avenue, New York, photo by Gottscho-Schleisner, November 5, 1940

Schrafft's, 625 Madison Avenue, New York, photo by Gottscho-Schleisner, December 1, 1940

Amsterdam, New York, photo by John Collier, October 1941

Broadway from Bowling Green, New York, photo by Arthur Rothstein, December 1941

Burning fallen leaves, New York City suburbs, photo by Arthur Rothstein, December 1941

Children playing in Washington Square, New York, photo by Edwin Rosskam, December 1941

Dressing window in Amsterdam, New York, photo by John Collier, October 1941

Elevated train structure and buildings, Lower Manhattan, New York, photo by Arthur Rothstein, December 1941

Evening in Washington Square, New York, photo by Edwin Rosskam, December 1941

Ice man, New York, photo by Arthur Rothstein, December 1941

Junk men with waste paper, New York, photo by Arthur Rothstein, December 1941

Main store, Fort Hunter, New York, photo by John Collier, October 1941

Railway crossing in Chatham, New York, photo by John Collier, October 1941

Scenes in the Finger Lakes region. This diner depends on the 'truckers' for its trade. Near Cortland, New York, photo by John Collier, October 1941

Store on the Hudson, New York, photo by John Collier, October 1941

Street in Amsterdam, New York, photo by John Collier, October 1941

Truckers' service station, Little Falls, New York, photo by John Collier, October 1941

Vladeck Houses, view from Madison and Scammel Streets, New York, photo by Gottscho-Schleisner, July 14, 1941

Drinking fountain in Central Park on Sunday, New York, photo by Marjory Collins, September 1942

Looking downtown from the Third Avenue elevated railway, New York, photo by Marjory Collins, September 1942

Looking north south on Broadway at Times Square, New York, photo by Marjory Collins, September 1942

Macy's department store at Herald Square, New York, photo by Marjory Collins, September 1942

Second Avenue elevated railway at 14th Street in the midst of demolition, New York, photo by Marjory Collins, September 1942

Taxi driver, New York, photo by Albert Fenn, 1942

Third Avenue elevated railway at 18th Street, New York, photo by Marjory Collins, September 1942

Third Avenue elevated railway station at 8-30 a.m, New York, photo by Marjory Collins, September 1942

Under the Third Avenue elevated railway, New York, photo by Marjory Collins, September 1942

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