Sign In

Fine 19th-Century Photographs of New York City:

The "New" Brooklyn Bridge, Vanderbilt's Grand Central

A remarkable set of four contemporary albumen photographs capturing the vibrant bustle of 1870s Manhattan. Taken by an unidentified but highly skilled photographer, possibly a visitor to New York from abroad, the images include a rare view of the original Grand Central Depot. Commissioned by Commodore Vanderbilt in 1869 and designed by John B. Snook, the depot was completed in 1871 on the site of the old 42nd Street station. At the time, the depot was reputed to be the largest interior space in the country, located on the edge of the city's development—42nd Street is shown here as an unpaved dirt road.

The largest image in the group is a wonderful bird's-eye view looking NE toward Brooklyn which is mounted by itself on one side of the card mount. It presents a highly detailed view of New York City's built environment from the perspective of the Equitable Life Insurance building located at 120 Broadway (completed in 1870) looking N.E. Two iconic towers of the "new" Brooklyn Bridge spring out of the East River, providing a perfect background. Many signs are clearly visible, including "Charles Pfizer & Co., Chemicals."

The photographs are summarized below.

1. New York City. View N.E. from "Equitable Insurance" Building Showing the New Brooklyn Bridge, with Brooklyn and the East River in the background. 8 x 4 3/4 inches.
2. Vanderbilt's Grand Central, 42nd St. Depot for the N.Y. and N.H.: the N.Y. & H. and N.Y. & Hudson R.R.s. 2 3/4 x 3 inches.
3. The Scene Inside [Vanderbilt's Grand Central]. 2 3/4 x 3 inches.
4. City Hall on Broadway: Court House built under Tammany Ring, 1861; Tribune Building; German Bank. 6 1/4 x 4 inches.

The Manhattan shown in these photographs was a city in transformation, with industry, commerce, and infrastructure driving a rapid expansion. The Equitable Insurance Building, a towering early skyscraper, offered sweeping views of the East River and the soon-to-be-completed Brooklyn Bridge, a symbol of the city’s engineering prowess. Vanderbilt's Grand Central Depot, a bustling hub for multiple railroads, embodied the age of industrial tycoons and the expansion of travel and commerce. Nearby, City Hall stood as a center of political power, while the imposing Tweed courthouse, born of Tammany Hall's influence, and the Tribune Building reflected the city’s mix of corruption and progress. These photographs capture New York’s dynamic urban landscape as it prepared for its future as the world’s preeminent metropolis.