Touring New York City at the Turn of the Century

(All images were obtained from the Library of Congress)

At the turn of the century, New York City was one of the most heavily populated

cities in the United States. Tens of thousands of immigrants traveled through

Ellis Island, the East Coast's Port of Entry, located in the city's harbor and

settled throughout the United States. Creating a large labor pool desperate

for work, these immigrants provided cheap labor to those businessmen who

were already established across the country. Creating an economic boom

for the country, the life these immigrants imagined was not as easy as finding

the streets paved with gold.

Cities across the nation had to rise to meet the demands of this new society.

Today you are going to travel through New York City analyzing historic

photographs and find out how urban planners met these demands. After your

trip, you are going to plan your own cities to meet the demands of your citizens.

So get your pen and paper ready.

Seeing New York

New York Skyline

You arrive at Battery Park after traveling back through time. Answer the following questions:

1. Describe what you see.

2. What do you think the people are doing in the photograph?

Immigrants at Battery Park, New York, N.Y

You head off towards the streets of New York City. You know that to travel the streets you have several options. Take a look at the following three pictures and list what types of transportation are available to you.

Subway entrance and exit kiosks, New York City Fifth Avenue and Forty-second Street, New York, N.Y. Shoppers on Sixth Avenue, New York, N.Y.

3. List the types of transportation available.

4. As you travel towards Central Park, you see the Flatiron Building being constructed. This type of building is now possible due to what new material being used to build it?

Flatiron Building, New York, N.Y.

You finally make it Uptown. The streets are quite a bit different than what you have seen previously.

5. Describe what you see.

6. What can you tell about the neighborhood?

Fifth Ave. at 65 St., New York

Wow, you are amazed when you arrive at Central Park. It is almost like you are no longer in the city.

7. Why would there be a park like this in the

middle of a major city?

Central Park, the lake, New York, N.Y.

As you travel through Central Park, you come

upon the Bethesda Fountain. You as a time

traveler recognize Central Park being

featured in Home Alone 2 and specifically

this fountain as being in many movies one

being Tommy Boy.

Central Park, New York, the fountain [i.e. Bethesda Fountain]

After strolling through Central Park, you see a large building to your left. It is another recognizable building. It is a museum. Your memory is vague, but you are sure you have been there before only at night.

Fun Fact: Can you name the movie?

American Museum of Natural History, New York, N.Y.

There's a Fire! Click on the image below to watch the movie.

After all this excitement, you decide to do a little shopping. You travel to Herald Square and run into Macy's Department Store.

8. What kind of items can you find in a present

day department store (Target)?

9. Why might department stores have developed

during this time period? (Think about why people

in cities would need or want one-stop shopping.)

R.H. Macy and Co., New York

As you are leaving Macy's you notice a mounted policeman. You need to get back to the lower part of Manhattan because you want to travel to Brooklyn to ride the Loop the Loop at Coney Island.

He directs you to the subway as the quickest way to get downtown.

Mounted policeman, New York, N.Y.

10. Describe the scene in the photograph

to the right.

A Characteristic sidewalk newstand [sic], New York City

While on the subway, you see a different types of buildings and neighborhoods.

Exterior of tenement, New York City

It is a different world in lower Manhattan. Watch the movie below by clicking on the link.

This section of New York City is obviously poorer and you are reminded of learning about ghettos in your social studies textbook.

11. Define the term ghetto in your own words.

New York, N.Y., yard of tenement

Are you surprised to see the Salvation Army bell ringers in the past?

Remember the poor: a Salvation Army Christmas box

12. What are the people doing in this scene?

Italian market, Mulberry Street, New York

You've traveled from Little Italy to this ethnic neighborhood.

Look for the clues in the picture to find out the ethnicity of immigrants in this neighborhood.

13. ____________ town.

Mott Street, New York, N.Y.

We are crossing over the famous Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn. Next stop is Coney Island.

New York abutment of Brooklyn Bridge

You ride the famous Loop the Loop. You overhear people talk about how death defying this new technology is that allows you to be suspended upside down.

Fun Fact: Do you know what force allows you to travel upside down without falling out of the car?

Loop the Loop, Coney Island, N.Y.

It is late and time for you to travel back to your classroom. One last thing that is new and improved about cities. Look at the picture to the right.

14. What is the new invention that

makes cities safer at night?

The Electric Tower at night, Luna Park, Coney Island, N.Y.

You have arrived back to your classroom. At this time, take time to reflect and answer the following question:

15.How has urbanization (building on cities) changed the face of the United States and what lasting effects are seen still today? (Remember this is your opinion, as with any opinion your answer is correct if you can provide factual information to support your position.)