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.
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| Cab stand at Madison Square, New York, circa 1900 |
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| Casino Theatre, Broadway, New York, circa 1900 |
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| Italian bread peddlers, Mulberry Street, New York, circa 1900 |
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| New York from East River, circa 1900 |
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| Pell Street, Chinatown, New York, circa 1900 |
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| The Bowery near Grand Street, New York, circa 1900 |
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| The tracks of the Third Avenue El passing the Bowery Savings Bank, Manhattan, New York, circa 1900 |
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| Vanderbilt House, Plaza Hotel and entrance to Central Park on Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1900 |
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| St. Paul Building, New York, 1901 |
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| Flatiron Building, the Manhattan landmark under construction, New York, circa 1902 |
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| Santa Claus on Broadway collecting donations for Volunteers of America, New York, circa 1902 |
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| A characteristic sidewalk newsstand, New York, circa 1903 |
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| Brooklyn Bridge Terminal, New York, 1903 |
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| Cadet Armory, 9th Regiment Coast Artillery, West 14th Street, New York, 1903 |
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| Hanover National Bank Building, Lower Manhattan, New York, circa 1903 |
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| Manhattan from under the Brooklyn Bridge, New York, circa 1903 |
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| South end of Bowery, Coney Island, New York, August 1903 |
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| A flower vender's Easter display, Union Square, New York, 1904 |
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| A race. Manhanset House. Shelter Island, New York, circa 1904 |
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| Brooklyn Navy Yard, view from Sands Street entrance, New York, circa 1904 |
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| Gen. Sherman statue at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street. Hotels Netherland, Savoy and St. Regis, New York circa 1904 |
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| Longacre Square, soon to be renamed Times Square, New York, circa 1904 |
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| Rockaway Beach, Long Island, New York, 1904 |
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| A life guard. Brighton Beach, New York, circa 1905 |
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| Coney Island, New York, 1905 |
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| Dreamland at twilight, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905 |
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| Flatiron Building, New York, 1905 |
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| Grace Church, New York, circa 1905 |
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| Johnstown Flood, Coney Island (an attraction commemorating the deadly Pennsylvania disaster of 1889), New York, circa 1905 |
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| L Station, Chatham Square, New York, circa 1905 |
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| New York, circa 1905 |
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| On the beach at Coney Island, New York, circa 1905 |
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| Piles of snow on Broadway after storm, New York, 1905 |
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| Subway entrance and exit kiosks, East 23rd Street, New York, circa 1905 |
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| The Bowery looking east, Rockaway, New York, circa 1905 |
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| The miniature railway, Coney Island, New York, circa 1905 |
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| Trinity Church, New York, 1905 |
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| West 23rd Street, New York, circa 1905 |
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| Where the subway is an elevated, New York, circa 1905 |
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| 14th Street Store, New York, circa 1906 |
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| Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, 1906 |
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| John Wanamaker store, Broadway and 10th Street, New York, circa 1906 |
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| The Metropolitan Life tower, New York, June 1906 |
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| Williamsburg Bridge Plaza, Brooklyn, New York, circa 1906 |
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| Williamsburg Bridge Plaza, New York, 1906 |
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| Brooklyn Bridge, New York, circa 1907 |
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| East Twenty-Third Street and Fourth Avenue, New York, 1908 |
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| New York Downtown, 1908 |
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| Traffic Squad Parade, New York, November 5, 1908 |
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| Hôtel Astor, New York, 1909 |
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| Knickerbocker Hotel, Broadway & 42nd Street, New York, 1909 |
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| Political museums, Union Square, New York, 1909 |
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Panorama of Madison Square, New York, circa 1909
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