What 7 iconic New York sites looked like in the 1930s - and what they look like today
In 1935, Washington Square Park added a one-way circular road to help ease up busy road traffic. With this change, the streets surrounding the park were widened, requiring pedestrians to cross a large stream of cars just to access the park.
Today the park has a large area for pedestrians to walk around without running into any road traffic. The park serves as a gathering place for local residents, chess players, students, and tourists from around the globe.
The Empire State Building was built in 1931. At the time of its completion, it was 102 stories and 1,250 feet high and was the world's tallest skyscraper.
Today, it's no longer the tallest building in the world. But, to add a little spark to the skyline, the Empire State Building lights up with color to recognize different occasions.
Herald Square was a hub for the newspaper industry, shopping, and subway lines in the 1930s. The elevated Sixth Avenue line, which you can see in this image, was built in the 1870s but demolished in 1939, just four years after this photo was taken. It was replaced by the underground subway.
Today, Herald Square is still popular for shopping, dining, and many events.
Street clocks — like this one at Fifth Avenue and 44th Street — are scattered throughout New York. The street clocks were typically owned by the business that they were located in front of. If the business was relocated, the clocks would move with them.
This gold street clock — located in front of the Fifth Avenue Hotel at Madison Square Park — still stands today, though the intersection seems just a little more busy.
In the 1930s, Madison Square Park was a place for people to walk around and enjoy views of the buildings surrounding it.
Today, the park has popular restaurants, including a Shake Shack, and even a playground for children. It also has exhibits from artists like New York artist Bill Beirne, contemporary San Francisco artist Jim Campbell, sculptor Mark di Suvero, and many more.
The Salmagundi Club, pictured here, has been one of the oldest art organizations in the US since it was founded in 1871. It's located at 47 Fifth Avenue, near the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 12th Street.
Today, the club offers art classes, exhibitions, painting demonstrations, and art auctions. They own a collection of 1,500 works of art from over its 140-year history, and boasts a membership of nearly 850 artists and patrons.
When Penn Station first opened in 1910, it was widely praised for its beautiful architecture done by the firm McKim, Mead & White. In the 1930s, the beautiful interiors were still standing.
Since then, the interior has completely changed. In 1962, demolition plans were revealed to build Madison Square Garden on top of it, and drastic remodels occurred. Today, it is still a huge commuter spot full of subway lines and a commuter rail — only, much less glamorous. Plans are currently underway to expand and renovate the station to get back some of its old beauty.
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