Skyscrapers of New York City, from the North River 1903

1903 Edison Manufacturing Co.
Camera: Wallace McCutcheon

Filmed from a boat moving down river, the film depicts the Hudson (i.e., North River) shoreline and the piers of lower Manhattan beginning around Fulton Street and extending south to Castle Clinton in the Battery. The first visible land mark is the Park Row Building in the distance at 0:24. St. Paul's Church 1:11. Pennsylvania Railroad 1:26. The fire boat dock for Engine Company 57, established in February of 1891, is seen at 2:57. The fire boat 'New Yorker' resided here: http://tinyurl.com/7og4zjg
Castle Clinton at 3:03, a fort built between 1808 and 1811 but which never saw service. Initially called the West Battery, it was renamed in 1815 for DeWitt Clinton, a former mayor of the city and future governor of New York. Its design is attributed to Lt. Col. Jonathan Williams and John McComb Jr., who is probably responsible only for the entrance. Military use ended in 1821 and the place was ceded to New York City in 1823. It became a center for popular entertainment (Castle Garden) in 1830, then an immigrant depot in 1855 shortly after landfill connected the building to the mainland. Immigration services were eventually moved to Ellis Island: http://tinyurl.com/87rurlg
At the time of this filming Castle Clinton was the new City Aquarium. The panorama ends with a view of Battery Park and the Custom House in the distance. This film is a portrait of the city in transition. Between 1900 and 1930, the skyline would grow steadily into the uniquely familiar silhouettes of downtown and midtown New York skyscrapers.

NOTE: This film viewed along with "Panorama Water Front and Brooklyn Bridge from East River" constitutes a complete sweep around the southern tip of Manhattan from Fulton Street on the west side to the Brooklyn Bridge on the East River.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZNh3YEo04A

Recommended reading:
Rise of the New York Skyscraper 1865-1913
- Sarah Bradford Landau and Carl L. Condit
A Maritime History of New York / New York City WPA Writers' Project - Going Coastal, Inc.

01/01/12 - 10,368

Category:

Film & Animation

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[johnnycchops]

This ends at Brooklyn Bridge? Nowhere to be seen...

[TigerRocket]

@johnnycchops This is one of two films (check the link at the end of the notes).

Together the two films make a complete trip around Manhattan's southern tip.

[Cheeto011]

when did it change from the north river to the hudson? if anything i would think the harlem would be the north

[TigerRocket]

The river had many native names before discovery but was primarily known as the "North River" after, until early in the 20th century. It is still officially called the North River by those in the maritime trades.

Technically, Harlem River is not a river at all but a strait connecting Hudson with East River (the East River itself is also not a river but a strait as well). Except for the Bronx, NYC's other boroughs constitute an archipelago.

[TheWildCyclone]

did new york have any graffiti on its walls back then? cuz when i usually go their, i see alot of writing on walls and all. i wonder if this has been happening even before the 50's

[TigerRocket]

Prior to the 50s (1880s to 1900s) NY and other major cities had blank street walls constantly plastered with advertising posters. Everything from the circus coming to town (these were usually huge) to quack remedies full of opiates and everything in between. Many were put up illegally as still happens today. Not quite the same as graffiti culture but the complaints were the same.

[rspivotmaster]

The difference between the east and west side of the country in 1903 is quite staggering.

[dickylobster]

You put together a great collection of oldies Tiger. Good work.

[Cheeto011]

This is perfect for a class i'm taking. one of the required texts is Rise of the New York Skyscraper and the whole thing is very cool

[stevensiegel260]

A great piece of history. Thanks for sharing...