This Is What NYC Looked Like 100 Years Ago

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of–even in 1915.

The Library of Congress Flickr is home to hundreds of remarkable images documenting New York City at the turn of the 19th century–an era of unprecedented change for America.

Here are several highlights from their collection documenting the Big Apple between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915.

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A woman crosses 5th Ave. and Broadway to Madison Square Park.

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A group of Italian school girls prepare for a day of class.

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New York City residents lounge in the Battery Park shade on a hot day.

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This photograph shows people at the start of a model yacht race at Conservatory Lake, Central Park, New York City.

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People inflating a hydrogen balloon on the roof of the John Wanamaker store on Broadway and Tenth Ave., planning to travel to Philadelphia.

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Edward Everett McCall (1863-1924), Chairman of the New York Public Service Commission visiting the site of a fire in a New York City subway tunnel which took place near West 55th Street and Broadway, January 6, 1915.

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A street cleaning vehicle parked on an NYC street.

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The Fire dept., Hook and ladder #7, trots down the street.

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Street trollies provided mass transit for the people of New York.

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The Coney Island beaches long before swimming was fashionable.

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A group of babies in New York's Lower Eastside.

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5th Ave. on a busy afternoon.

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A man places his head in a hippo's mouth in Central Park.

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Children play in the fountain of Madison Sq. Park on hot day.

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A vehicle balances on the edge of a bridge after crashing in Central Park.

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A Jewish pupil on his way to class.

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Suffragists selling flowers on the streets.

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Bathers enjoy a nice day at Brighton Beach.

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A man recieves a straight razor shave at the Hotel de Gink barber.

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Photograph shows the aftermath of a fire in a New York City subway tunnel which took place near West 55th Street and Broadway, January 6, 1915.