An economic downfall that affected America like no other, The Great Depression has forever left a mark on our history. While most of us who are reading this weren’t alive during the 1930’s, we’ve long learned about these trying times from our family members and history books. All around the globe, economies were suffering and an overall crisis was occurring.
We may never be able to truly understand what it was like to be alive during this period of time, but these 16 rare photos of New York during the Great Depression are a window into the past:
- New Yorkers lined up outside of an employment agency in 1937. With unemployment at an all time high, this picture was a familiar setting during The Great Depression.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammar
- Another sight you often saw in New York City during the 1930s, people on strike and protesting in the streets.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
- Technology is always changing! Pictured below you can see a woman working in a New York City tailor shop in 1936.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
- A New York City salesman attracting a large crowd of New Yorkers in 1936, doing whatever he can to make money during these hard times.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
- Look at those strollers! Here you can see mothers with their children on the streets of New York City in 1936.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
- Imagine paying 2, 3 or 5 cents for anything nowadays? Here you can see what New York City food carts looked like years ago in 1938.
Jack Allison/Photogrammar
- A Yorkville street band entertaining all those who walk by, imagine the music they were playing in 1937! Music was one of the small ways Americans could take their mind off of all that was going on during the 1930s.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammar
- New Yorkers and Union protesters walking along the streets of New York City in 1936.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammar
- Taken in 1937, you can see a functioning farm out in Otsego County.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammar
- Taken in Cooperstown, here you can see a sawmill coming together in 1937.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammar
- Suffering from tuberculosis, here you can see a family pictured in Albany County.
Paul Carter/Photogrammar
- Can you imagine using this horse-drawn wagon as your moving truck in modern times? Taken in 1938, you can see a New Yorker moving out of their apartment.
Walker Evans/Photogrammar
- Newspapers for sale in New York City. If only we could read this 1939 newspaper today.
Walker Evans/Photogrammar
- Farmers Markets will always be one of our favorite places to go shopping, no matter what year it is.
Sheldon Dick/Photogrammar
- We’ll never stop window shopping! Here you can see someone looking at the display in Bergdorf Goodman.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
- When the days of single room schoolhouses were still alive! Here you can see a group children sitting outside of an Albany County schoolhouse.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammar
There’s nothing like taking a trip down memory lane to see how much the times have truly changed. To peek through another window of the past, check out this incredible Footage Of Niagara Falls From 1969 that shows you one of New York’s greatest outdoor attractions like you’ve never seen it before!
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammar
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
Jack Allison/Photogrammar
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammar
Paul Carter/Photogrammar
Walker Evans/Photogrammar
Sheldon Dick/Photogrammar
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