As many great cities lay in ruins after World War II, New York City assumed a new global prominence. It became the home of the United Nations headquarters, built 1947–1952.
Inherited the role from Paris as center of the art world with Abstract Expressionism; and became a rival to London in the international finance and art markets.
Midtown Manhattan, fueled by postwar prosperity, was experiencing an unprecedented building boom that changed its very appearance. Glass-and-steel office towers in the new International Style began to replace the ziggurat-style towers (built in wedding-cake style) of the prewar era.
Also rapidly changing was the eastern edge of the East Village close to FDR Drive. Many traditional apartment blocks were cleared and replaced with large-scale public housing projects.
These fascinating black and white photos were found by mybelair62 that show street scenes of New York in the 1950s.
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| 15 Park Avenue |
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| Boat at NYC dock |
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| Broadway theatre |
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| Brooklyn Bridge |
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| Brooklyn Bridge |
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| Brooklyn Bridge |
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| Brooklyn Bridge |
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| Brooklyn Bridge |
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| Buses and taxis |
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| Chinatown in New York |
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| Chinatown in New York |
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| E 41st Street |
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| Empire State Building |
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| Empire State Building |
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| Empire State Building |
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| Grand Central Terminal |
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| Hotel Ten Park Avenue |
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| Independence ship at NYC dock |
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| La Bamba, Count Basie and His Orch |
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| Leon & Eddie's |
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| Manhattan Bridge |
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| NYC corner of E 43rd Street |
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| NYC elevated train |
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| NYC ferry |
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| NYC highway |
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| NYC street scenes |
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| NYC street scenes |
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| NYC street scenes |
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| Queensboro Bridge |
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| Staten Island |
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| Store display |
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| Thompsons resturant |
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| Times Square |
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| Times Square |
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| Trinity Church, Wall St. and Nassau St. |
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| Under the bridge |
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| Under the bridge |
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| Wall Street |