Look At What New York Looked Like 3 Decades Ago (30 Photos)
Interview With AuthorCities are constantly going through changes driven by social and technological advancements. Chances are, the place that you grew up in is entirely different now than it was before. This is just a simple consequence of human progress. However, how certain locations looked in the past can quickly fade from our memory, losing their history along with it. Luckily, photography lets us preserve such moments, assuming that there’s a person dedicated enough to capture the nooks and crannies of the city.
That’s exactly what Grégoire Alessandrini did, immortalizing New York of the 1990s in his vintage photo archive. It’s full of street scenes, landmarks, and iconic locations that have been majorly transformed since. Scroll down to set out on a nostalgic walk through New York City, and don’t forget to share any memories you have of NYC in the 90s. We are more than excited to hear them!
While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with the photographer Grégoire Alessandrini himself and city photographer Natallia, who currently resides in Vilnius, Lithuania.
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After The Snow Storm - 6th Avenue 1996
First week of January 1996. About 3 feet of snow but crazy high snow drifts. The whole tri-state area was shut down for days. (New Jersey, USA)
Bryant Park 1993
Sidewalks Of NYC, St. Marks Place 1993
Flea Market 6th Avenue 1997
East Village 1995
Soho (Greene Street) 1992
Chelsea Hotel 1997
"I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel. That's all. I don't even think of you that often."
“Newsstand”1994
Knitting Factory On Houston Street - 1991
Snow Days In The East Village - Winter 1996
Village Cigars 1990s
Sidewalks Of NYC. Diamond District, 1991
I can smell the somewhat burned pretzels as I burrow deeper into my leather jacket
The Bowery 1995
The Fat Black Cat West Village 1995
The two letters after the word ‘black’ look like PO. Are we sure it’s ’cat ’?
Unique On Broadway 1993
Meat Packing District Early 1990’s
5th Avenue 1991
Itzkowitz Ludlow Street 1994
NYC Diners Early 1990s
One of the great greasy spoons of NYC - closed in 2002: https://evgrieve.com/2009/02/remembering-jones-diner.html
Russian And Turkish Baths East Village 1997
Chelsea 1995
Great Jones Alley (And Cortlandt Alley) Mid-90’s
Times Square 1997
Columbus Circle 1991
Sidewalks Of NYC. Upper East Side
Peep Land And Show World (Mid-90s)
Chelsea (22nd And 7th Ave. ) 1997
Times Square 1994
Im from The Bronx. Im extremely familiar with Times Square. This was the time of hookers everywhere, (sexy, except the tran-ies, but back then, they were called trans-vestites) Robbers, (scary) Peep shows, (was too young to endeavor lol) Arcades (So much fun). This was when everything was organic, and it didn't feel so modern, and commercialized, as it is today. When, you actually had fun during New Year's Eve, during the ball drop, not this modern version, where everyone is in NYPD cages like cattle. Smh It was just so much different.
6th Avenue Flea Market Mid-90’s
Meat Packing District 1994
Photographs captured in a film camera have such a different warmth and spirit about them as opposed to digital camera / smartphones.
I'd love to see side by side pics of what's there now for some of them.
I did it for few images. You can find them on my instagram account. @newyork1990s
Load More Replies...I visited NYC in feb 1993, I was 20, these pictures look so vintage, I feel ancient
This is exactly how I felt looking at them. I had to scroll up to make sure it was the 90s and not 70s I was looking at! In my mind that was only yesterday!
Load More Replies...Photographs captured in a film camera have such a different warmth and spirit about them as opposed to digital camera / smartphones.
I'd love to see side by side pics of what's there now for some of them.
I did it for few images. You can find them on my instagram account. @newyork1990s
Load More Replies...I visited NYC in feb 1993, I was 20, these pictures look so vintage, I feel ancient
This is exactly how I felt looking at them. I had to scroll up to make sure it was the 90s and not 70s I was looking at! In my mind that was only yesterday!
Load More Replies...
