A Peek Into the Past of New York City Parks

The NYC Parks Photo Archive is a collection of over 200,000 images of New York City parks dating from 1856 to present.

The Parks Photo Archive contains comprehensive images of parks acquisition, development and use, including design and construction improvements, special events, significant features, general park activities, and aerial views.

In this New Yorker article, take a look at some cool vintage photographs of New York City's parks from Central Park's camel lawn-mowers in 1869, to squatters at Inwood Hill in 1934.

Squatters, Inwood Hill Park waterfront, 1934.

Amateur boxing class, Colonial Park Pool, New York, 1942.

A camel hitched to a lawn mower, Sheep Meadow, Central Park, 1869.

The Fifth Annual Black World Championship Rodeo, Colonel Charles Young Playground, New York, 1988.

East River Drive celebration, zookeepers with Anna and Jiggs, 1935.

Learn to Swim program at Astoria Pool, Queens, 1940.

Sheep and admirers on the Long Meadow, Prospect Park, circa 1895.

Labor Crew, Riverside Drive at 110th Street, 1934.

Orchard Beach Re-Opening Day, Bronx, 1989.

via The New Yorker

central park
history
photography
vintage photography

Joshua Mu

Contributing Writer

When he is not attempting to hustle the hustlers of Central Park, Joshua enjoys exploring the depths of what New York has to offer. He one day hopes to pilot a drone without immediately crashing it.

Posts by Joshua Mu

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