Here Are The Oldest Photos Ever Taken In New York And They're Incredible
Lea Monroe
Author
Pieces of New York’s fascinating history can be found all over our state, well preserved and at the ready to teach us about our past. It’s always stunning to see historic buildings and artifacts that date back to well before we were around, but sometimes it takes looking at an old photograph to really bring us back in time. Looking at some of the oldest photos of NYC, and the rest of the Empire State, is pretty magical. It really gives you a glimpse of what life was like over 100 years ago. Here are a few of the oldest pictures of New York City – and beyond – that we think you’ll enjoy:
1. Rochester (1900): This historic photo shows the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad Station.
2. Fourth Lake (1894): Scenic boat rides have long been a favorite activity of New Yorkers - here's the photo evidence.
3. Buffalo (1901): My, oh my, how things have changed! Many of the buildings on Main Street in this photo are no longer standing.
4. Taughannock Falls (1895): What a cool historic photo from one of the most impressive natural wonders in New York.
5. Syracuse University (c. 1898-1906): This old picture shows The Old Oval and other historic buildings, such as Steele Hall.
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6. Watkins Glen State Park (1916): This magnificent state park is considered one of the Empire State's best. This photo was from just 10 years after it was designated as a state park.
7. Keuka Lake (1894): The vineyards surrounding the lake were just as stunning back then.
8. Ellis Island (1905): Needless to say, the main building of Ellis Island's immigrant landing station is certainly an important part of New York history.
9. Syracuse (1905): This photo of the Philip Eckel Monument shows it at its original location, at Butternut and North State Streets.
10. New York City (1900): This is one of the earliest photos of New York City. It depicts visitors to the Big Apple having a grand old time ice skating in Central Park, just as they do today.
11. New York City (c. 1885): This is another of the earliest pictures of New York City, and it displays an icon known across the globe. It's a photo of the Statue of Liberty as it was being reconstructed after being shipped over from France.
To check out more historic photos of the Empire State, see how incredible these 16 Rare Photos Taken In New York During The Great Depression are!
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