This site lets you travel back in time and explore New York City as it stood nearly a century ago.
This site was adapted from the New York City Guide, a detailed portrait of the city published in 1939 by the Federal Writers’ Project. On this site, you can read the guide’s depiction of landmarks, neighborhoods, and other destinations around your current location. Some have changed little since 1939, others are long forgotten. In either case, the guide reflects the enduring energy and diversity of New York City.
I hope you’ll use this site to discover the bits of history that surround us in this city, but often go unnoticed as we go about our daily routines.
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established in 1935 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, aiming to create jobs for Americans struggling under the Great Depression. Within the WPA, the Federal Writers’ Project employed over 6,500 people across the country. Among other projects, it created the American Guide Series, which ultimately produced dozens of books and pamphlets exploring nearly the entire country. The New York City Guide, published in 1939, totaled over 700 pages. A digitized version of the book can be viewed online thanks to the Prelinger Library.
This site was created by Hal Dick. You can contact me via this form.