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The Big Apple has around 8.5 million inhabitants today – Switzerland as a whole country cannot even match that. Around 100 years ago, New York was also a lot more contemplative, as these historical photographs show in a before-and-after comparison.
Brooklyn Bridge
One of the landmarks of New York, also known as the “Bridge of Longing”. The photo shows the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn. The Manhattan Bridge can be seen in the background.
- Opening: 1883
- At that time the longest suspension bridge in the world (486 meters)
- Construction time: 13 years
- Costs: 15 million Dollar
The population was already skeptical about the building when a mass panic broke out on the bridge just six days after it was opened, killing twelve people.
In May 1884, the Barnum Circus demonstrated the stability of the bridge and left 21 circus elephants walk over it.
The second tallest building on the left in the picture is the Woolworth Building, which was the tallest building in the world from 1913-1930.
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On the right of the picture the One World Trade Center, which only just towers above the other high-rise buildings.
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Flatiron Building
The Flatiron Building, also called the Fuller Building (after the construction company), was never the tallest building in NYC, as is often wrongly claimed.
- Completion: 1902
- 91 meters high, 22 floors
- At the time of opening it had no ladies toilets throughout the building.
Union Square Park
Also known as Downtown Manhattan’s Times Square, this place has always been a popular meeting place. Today you can meet breakdancers, painters, Hare Krishna supporters, skateboarders and bikers, homeless people and business people in and around the park.
- Opening: 1839
- In 1828 the square was still called Union Place and served as a cemetery for the poor.
Empire State Building (left in the picture) and MetLife Tower (right, with clock), surrounded by residential and office buildings.
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Madison Square Park
- Opening: 1847
- The land served between 1794 and 1797 as a cemetery for the needy.
- Like all parks in NYC, this one has opening times. Those who are caught in the park right next to the Flatiron after midnight often have to in court.
Williamsburg Bridge
The suspension bridge connects the Lower East Side in Manhattan with Williamsburg in Brooklyn.
- Completion: 1903
- During the construction of the bridge, New York and Brooklyn were still two separate cities.
- The Williamsburg Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge are the only suspension bridges in New York on which both cars and subways operate.
Photographed from Transmitter Park (in Greenpoint, Brooklyn).
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statue of Liberty
Central Park
- Built in 1857, expanded to its present size in 1873.
- With around 340 hectares, it makes up around 6 percent of Manhattan’s land area.
- Popular filming location, among others for the films “When Harry met Sally”, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, “Home Alone 2”, “Elf” and “Léon”.
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park has been used as a public park since 1827. In 1979 the land was still used as a place for executions and as a cemetery. Historians believe that still today up to 20,000 people lie buried there.
The prominent building to the right of the triumphal arch is that One Fifth Avenue Apartmentwhich was built in 1927. The Art Deco building was originally a hotel, but today it mainly houses apartments. A 1-room apartment costs around 1.75 million francs.
Manhattans Skyline
One of the most beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline is available for free: the Staten Island ferry departs from the Whitehall Terminal in southern Manhattan and chugs free for everyone to St. George. During the trip, you can even have a beer – which is otherwise prohibited in public in NYC.
To go with it: 43 before-and-after pictures that show how much the earth has changed
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