Vintage Photographs of Staten Island Ferries, Some Dating Back to 1859

Staten Island Ferry terminal Whitehall Street, upper-level waiting room on October 24, 1923. (Staten Island Advance file photo)

Cars come off the ferry John F. Kennedy at Whitehall Terminal

Aerial photo of the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Photo from August 1982.

Ferry boat, "Josephine". American Views, Hoyer, 1859.

View of New York City Harbor with the Staten Island ferry(far left). The South ferry (right). Photo from September 27th 1884.

A fire hose is being tested at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. In 1946 a fire destroyed the structure, burning throughout the night. Photo taken on October 1980.

The paddlewheeler Robert Garrett was one of the ferryboats. The Staten Island Rapid Transit Railway operated between St. George and Manhattan when the Island became part of the Greater City of New York in 1898. The city took over ferry operations in 1905.

The ferryboat Richmond at St. George, October 1918. (From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

The ferryboat President Roosevelt entering the slip at St. George, June 1924. From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

The President Roosevelt at the edge of the slip at St. George, circa 1922. (From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

The ferry boat Mayor Gaynor in the 39th Street ferry slip at St. George, circa 1929. (From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

The upper saloon of the ferry boat American Legion, circa 1927. (From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

Ferry House, St. George, Staten Island. (From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

The Ferry Boat Bay Ridge leaving St. George, circa 1919. (From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

The doors to the men's cabin on the main deck of the ferry boat Knickerbocker. (From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

The interior of the St. George Terminal showing the entrance to the Brooklyn Ferry, circa 1927. (From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

The inside of the wheel house on the ferry boat Dongan Hills, circa 1933. (From the Collection of the Staten Island Museum)

The Staten Island Ferry transports 22 million people per year with an average of 70,000 passengers per day on weekdays.

Ferry service of some sort has existed between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in Lower Manhattan for over 150 years, pre-dating all City bridges, and making it one of the oldest methods of transportation still in regular City use today.

Here is a collection of great vintage photos of the ferry and terminal over the years, with most from the early 20th century, and some even dating as far back as 1859.

Check out the full article for more photos and history of the Staten Island Ferry.

via SILive

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Matt Coneybeare

Editor in Chief

Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.

Posts by Matt Coneybeare

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