Manhattan in the 1930s

These vintage photos will make you yearn for the Gotham of yesteryear

Manhattan skyline
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When photographer Berenice Abbott returned to New York City in 1929after an eight-year absence, she was greeted by a gleaming maze of skyscrapers; the city had spent the roaring '20s engaged in an unprecedented construction boom. Inspired, Abbott dedicated herself to capturing New York's new face.

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

As Abbott began her exhaustive project, the stock market suffered a devastating crash. The photographer struggled to keep up with her documentation through the Depression. But she was awarded support in 1935 through the Federal Art Project, and in 1940, Changing New York was completed. In 302 photos, Abbott managed to capture a bustling and diverse urban landscape that was already home to some of Gotham's most iconic buildings, yet still had so much more room to grow. Below, take a peek at Manhattan as it was some eight decades ago.

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott)

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

(Image credit: (Berenice Abbott / From The New York Public Library))

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.

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