• LIFE
  • Culture

Love Letter to New York: Classic LIFE Photos of the Big Apple

1 minute read
Stormy sky hovers over the Brooklyn Bridge and the ghostly skyscrapers of Manhattan's financial district in March 1946.
Storm clouds hover over the Brooklyn Bridge and the ghostly skyscrapers of Manhattan's financial district in March 1946.Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
By Ben Cosgrove

The monuments and the museums, the pulsing crowds on Fifth Avenue, opera at the Met and stickball in Spanish Harlem, sardines on the subway and the romantic urban vistas of Central Park: Over the years, LIFE’s photographers explored every corner of New York, the city the magazine always called its home.

From the countless images of the Big Apple stored away in the late, great magazine’s archives, LIFE.com presents a selection of black-and-white photos that show off the the spirit, the architecture, the culture (the high and the decidedly, thrillingly low) of Gotham—visual testaments to a city that, in darkness and in light, remains one of a kind.

 

The silhouette of the Statue of Liberty in January 1943.
The silhouette of the Statue of Liberty in the World War II era, January 1943. Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Pre-Christmas holiday traffic teaming with double-decker buses, trucks and cars, crawling along two-way-laned, 5th avenue near 34th street in November 1948.
Fifth Avenue teems with pre-Christmas holiday traffic near 34th street in November 1948.Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Stormy sky hovers over the Brooklyn Bridge and the ghostly skyscrapers of Manhattan's financial district in March 1946.
Storm clouds hover over the Brooklyn Bridge and the ghostly skyscrapers of Manhattan's financial district in March 1946.Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Model Carol Lorell walks down the street in the east '60s of Manhattan in January 1940.
Model Carol Lorell walks down 3rd Avenue in the East 60s, Manhattan, January 1940. Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A view from New Jersey of the moon shining over Manhattan's RCA and Chrysler buildings as its light shimmers on the waters of the Hudson River in September 1946.
A view from New Jersey of the moon shining over Manhattan's RCA and Chrysler buildings as its light shimmers on the waters of the Hudson River in September 1946. Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A strolling blind musician plays guitar and harmonica along Broadway at night in the Times Square Area in 1944. "Mr. Skeffington" is playing at the Selwyn Theater across the street.
A strolling blind musician plays guitar and harmonica along Broadway at night in Times Square in 1944. Peter Stackpole—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Aerial view of the crowded beach and pier at Coney Island, including the Parachute Jump amusement park ride (the tall structure at left) in Brooklyn, New York, 1951.
Aerial view of the crowded beach and pier at Coney Island, including the Parachute Jump amusement park ride (the tall structure at left), Brooklyn, 1951. Margaret Bourke-White—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Young boys with sticks run around while playing a street game in Spanish Harlem in January 1947.
Young boys with play a street game in Spanish Harlem in January 1947.Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A woman walks her poodles along the sidewalk on Fifth Avenue in October 1942.
A woman walks her poodles along Fifth Avenue in October 1942. Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A view from the balcony at the opening of new Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in January 1966.
A view from the balcony at the opening of new Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in January 1966. John Dominis—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Off-loaded freight front box cars are hoisted up to jutting loading platforms at Brooklyn Army Terminal in October 1949.
Off-loaded freight boxes are hoisted up to loading platforms at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in October 1949.Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Men leave the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during an air raid drill in November 1951.
People race from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during an air raid drill in November 1951.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A soldier saying farewell at Penn Station in December 1943.
A soldier says farewell at (the old, classic) Penn Station in December 1943.Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
People relax, ride boats, walk, and enjoy Central Park in August 1951.Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
New Yorkers crowd Broadway below a large billboard depicting actress Marlene Dietrich in October 1944.
New Yorkers crowd Broadway below a large billboard depicting actress Marlene Dietrich in October 1944.Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A plane flys above New York, NY before landing in October 1949.
Sightseeing above New York, October 1949.Bernard Hoffman—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Crowed commuters on a train during rush hour on Manhattan's IRT subway in January 1970.
Commuters crowd a train during rush hour on Manhattan's IRT subway in January 1970.Ralph Crane—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Beautiful, ornate clock at Pennsylvania Station, December 1942
Pennsylvania Station, December 1942.Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The new Metropolitan Life Insurance Company North Building, left, and the 1909 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower at night, Madison Square, New York City, May 1947.
The new Metropolitan Life Insurance Company North Building, left, and the 1909 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower at night, Madison Square, New York City, May 1947.Herbert Gehr—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A trio of sailors walk arm in arm down a dimly lit street near Times Square, searching vainly for fun in the curfew-quiet city, February 1945.
A trio of sailors walk arm in arm down a dimly lit street near Times Square, searching vainly for fun in the curfew-quiet city, February 1945.Herbert Gehr—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
An aerial view of the entrance ramp leading to the top of the Port Authority Bus Terminal against the skyline of New York City in 1950.
An aerial view of the entrance ramp leading to the top of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York City, 1950.Margaret Bourke-White—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Children participate in a bicycle safety program run by the New York City police in June 1954.
Children participate in a bicycle safety program run by the New York City police in June 1954. Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Nikita S. Khrushchev and his wife, center, meet the press at the top of the Empire State building in September 1959.
Russian head Nikita S. Khrushchev and his wife, center, meet the press at the top of the Empire State building in September 1959.Al Fenn—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Boys climb on rocks in Central Park, November 1972.
Four boys climb on rocks in Central Park, November 1972.Bill Ray—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A view of a big snowstorm in New York City in February 1960.
A snowstorm hits New York City in February 1960.Al Fenn—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Columbus Circle during a heat wave in August 1944. A large Coca Cola sign and thermometer registers 100 degrees on top of building next to the Mayflower Hotel, New York.
Columbus Circle during a heat wave in August 1944. A large Coca Cola sign and thermometer registers 100 degrees on top of building next to the Mayflower Hotel, New York.Marie Hansen—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Fire boats greet the SS France as it enters New York Harbor on its maiden voyage in February 1962.
Fire boats greet the SS France as it enters New York Harbor on its maiden voyage in February 1962. Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A father and son walk past the Globe Theater in 1971.
A father and son walk past the Globe Theater in 1971.Bill Ray—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A view of bustling, raucous New York City, looking straight down 42nd Street, January 1946.
A view of bustling, raucous New York City, looking straight down 42nd Street, January 1946.Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com