Plan of One Tower for the East River Bridge, 1867
When it opened on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Designed and built by German-born John A. Roebling and his son, Washington A. Roebling, the bridge connected New York and Brooklyn. The remarkable design used Roebling’s patented system of steel wire cable construction. Its graceful limestone and granite towers, pictured here, took 5 years to build.
We were saddened to hear of the death of writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak (June 10, 1928 – May 8, 2012). Sendak was born to Jewish immigrant parents. His father, Philip Sendak’s citizenship papers can be found at the National Archives at New York.
102 Floors, 6,500 Windows, 73 Elevators, 410 Days to Complete - The Glorious Empire State Building
President Hoover dedicated the Empire State Building on this day, May 1, 1931.
Herbert Hoover’s dedication was delivered from the White House where a ceremonial switch had been set up. The President touched the switch and an operator in New York was cued to turn on the Empire State Building lights.
Photographer Lewis Hine documented incredible aerial scenes of workers constructing the Empire State Building. Here’s one of Hine’s photos of a workman on the framework of the skyscraper.
On March 25, 1911, fire swept through the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, killing 146 employees, most of them women.
Just 13 days until the online release of the 1940 Census!
The original caption reads:”New York City’s Sixth Avenue elevated railway and the crowded street below, ca. 1940.”
According the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of New York City was 7.5 million in 1940, making NYC the most populous city at that time. It remains at the top even today, with the 2010 census showing over 8 million inhabitants.
On Saturday March 24 in New York City, you can get ready for the 1940 Census with expert guest speakers, including our own Connie Potter and Dr. Groves of the U.S. Census Bureau. The program is free but requires registration.
Recruiting in the New York City Hall Park in 1864. Illustration from a sketch by George Law, published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, March 19, 1864.
Members of the Nation’s first Negro Navigation Cadets, who will receive their commissions in the Army Air Forces on February 26th, visited City Hall as guests of Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia this afternoon. They are shown on the steps of City Hall as the mayor greeted their commanding officer, Maj. Galen B. Price. 02/16/1944
After shattering the traditional bottle of champagne across the bow of the USS Nautilus, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and others gathered at the Electric Boat Yard of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on January 21, 1954, watched as the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine slipped into the Thames River. The submarine became the first commissioned nuclear-power ship in the U.S. Navy on September 30, 1954.
Shown here is stock US Navy footage from the Nautilus’ visit to New York City.
The Manhattan Bridge opens to the public for the first time on December 31, 1909, we’re pretty sure the traffic didn’t look like this view from 1973.
MANHATTAN BRIDGE AND ROAD SYSTEM ON THE EAST RIVER, 04/1973
For our friends at the New York Public Library
The lion statues at the New York Public Library, with a mantle of snow during the record December 1948 snowfall, 12/1948
“A patron of ‘Sammy’s Bowery Follies,’ a downtown bar, sleeping at his table while the resident cat laps at his beer, 12/1947”
Fifty years after his American debut, pianist Josef Hofmann performs at the Metropolitan Opera House on November 28, 1937
A full house, seen from the rear of the stage, at the Metropolitan Opera House for a concert by pianist Josef Hofmann, 11/28/1937
We Asked, You Answered!
Here are some of your favorite bridges that can be found in the holdings of the National Archives.
Shadowy Towers of the World Trade Center rise behind St. Paul’s Chapel in this Documerica photograph.
Historic Trinity Church on lower Broadway at the foot of Wall Street. Behind loom the towers of one of Manhattan’s newest giants, The World Trade Center. 05/1973. Wil Blanche, Photographer
1973 NYC Storm Evacuation Map
As we brace for Hurricane Irene, we thought we’d look to see what we had in the Records of the National Archives. We found this 1973 storm evacuation map for New York City.
