Get us in your inbox

Search
  1. Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress
    Photograph: Courtesy Library of CongressChristmas tree lot, December 1903
  2. Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress
    Photograph: Courtesy Library of CongressChildren with sleds in Central Park, 1914
  3. Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress
    Photograph: Courtesy Library of CongressMacy's holiday windows, between ca. 1908 and ca. 1917
  4. Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress
    Photograph: Courtesy Library of CongressThe Mall, Central Park, between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915
  5. Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress
    Photograph: Courtesy Library of CongressChristmas shoppers on 5th Avenue at 42nd Street, between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915
  6. Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress
    Photograph: Courtesy Library of CongressChristmas tree in Madison Square Park, between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915
  7. Central Park, between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915
  8. Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress
    Photograph: Courtesy Library of CongressUnion Square between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915
  9. Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress
    Photograph: Courtesy Library of CongressHoliday Windows, ca 1920
  10. Photograph: Courtesy The New York Historical Society
    Photograph: Courtesy The New York Historical SocietyThe first Rockefeller Christmas tree, December 1931
  11. Photograph: Courtesy Patina Restaurant Group
    Photograph: Courtesy Patina Restaurant GroupRockefeller Center Rink, 1936
  12. Macys Christmas shoppers, December 1942
  13. Photograph: courtesy The New York Public Library
    Photograph: courtesy The New York Public LibraryNew York Public Library lion with holiday wreath, ca. 1940s - 1950s
  14. Photograph: Courtesy The New York Historical Society
    Photograph: Courtesy The New York Historical SocietyRockefeller Christmas Tree, ca. 1940
  15. Macys Christmas shoppers, December 1942
  16. Photograph: Courtesy New York Historical Society/Herb Scharfman
    Photograph: Courtesy New York Historical Society/Herb ScharfmanTimes Square, view from 46th Street at night, December 26, 1947
  17. Photograph: Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
    Photograph: Greenwich Village Society for Historic PreservationWashington Square Park with holiday tree, circa 1950s
  18. Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress
    Photograph: Courtesy Library of CongressRockefeller Center Christmas tree, 1964
  19. Photograph: Rainer Halama
    Photograph: Rainer HalamaRockefeller Center Christmas tree and ice skating rink, 1981
  20. Photograph: courtesy The New York Public Library
    Photograph: courtesy The New York Public LibraryNew York Public Library lion with holiday wreath, 1981

20 stunning vintage photos of New York in the holidays

Pull on your tweed slacks, light a pipe, and take a look at how New Yorkers celebrated the holidays back in the day

Advertising

There's nothing quite like Christmas in New York to get us all misty-eyed and nostalgic, so we've decided to go all out and collect our favorite vintage shots of Gotham in holiday mode to compliment our modern-day photos of Christmas in NYC. So grab a hot chocolate—and throw in a shot of something stronger, because that's what they did in the old days, right?—and feast your eyes on these lovely images. If these scenes take you to a warm and fuzzy place, get wrapped up in our then-and-now comparison of NYC in the holidays. Stylish and festive New Yorkers of yesteryear, we salute you!

RECOMMENDED: See the complete guide to Christmas in New York

Recommended

    More on Christmas

      You may also like
      You may also like
      Advertising