History of The Bowery in Pictures (1831 - 1957)
The Bowery in New York City, initially a 17th-century Dutch settlement, holds a significant place in shaping the city’s cultural and architectural heritage. Originally named “Bouwerij” (an old Dutch word for farm), it reflects the area’s agricultural beginnings under Dutch colonization. Before the Dutch, the Lenape people inhabited the region, marking an important aspect of the area’s pre-colonial history and contributing to NYC’s layered historical narrative.
As it transitioned into a vibrant commercial and entertainment district by the mid-19th century, The Bowery mirrored the city’s broader growth and emergence as a national center for commerce and culture. Despite its mid-19th-century notoriety for seedier elements, these aspects significantly contributed to the city’s complex social and cultural story.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, The Bowery evolved into a hub for vaudeville and burlesque, showcasing NYC’s status as a cultural melting pot and center for artistic innovation. This era also introduced influential artists like Rothko, de Kooning, and Motherwell, cementing The Bowery’s impact on the art world.
Today’s Bowery, with its upscale retail and dining, while preserving historical elements, reflects New York City’s adaptive and transformative nature. This evolution from early Dutch and Lenape roots to a modern urban neighborhood encapsulates the dynamic and multifaceted history of New York City, underscoring its themes of diversity, transformation, and resilience.
1831: Broadway and Bowery
Engraved illustration depicting the corner of Broadway & the Bowery in downtown Manhattan.
1896: Along the Bowery
Photograph showing elevated railroad, delivery wagons, streetcars, buildings and people in lower Manhattan.
1900: The Bowery near Grand Street
A steam-powered locomotive awaits boarding passengers on the Bowery's elevated train line near Grand Street.
1901: Under the Elevated Railroad at the Bowery
Photograph of a busy scene on the Bowery as pedestrians make their way across the street and under the elevated overpass.
1910: Tending a News Stand at Bowery & Bond Street
Photograph of Minnie Paster, a 10 year old having to work and tend a newspaper stand at Bowery & Bond
1949: A Glimpse into The Bowery's Life: Outside The Alabama Hotel & Skid Row Bar & Grill
Photograph shows men gathered on sidewalk in front of the Alabama Hotel and Skid Row Bar & Grill in downtown Manhattan.
1957: The Bowery
Photograph of The Bowery and Delancey Street showing cars at a stoplight and signs for the People's Bar, and the Crystal Hotel and Pioneer Hotel in distance.
