Step back in time and be able to pinpoint a specific street address in any of the boughs of New York and have appear photo (s) of that location over the years. They are from images held by the New York Public Library – Old NYC.

Where known information beside the street address is known such as a date or other information, it is listed. What a treasure for anyone whose family had a business, a shop or home – there just might a photo of it.

If you are unsure of an exact address, just zoom in to a certain location, such as a city block. Wherever there is a ‘dot’ in red click on it and the images appear along with an exact address.

Any images you locate, the information on it is to the right. You can left click on the image to save it to your computer. You can be hours just viewing the wide selection of places, even if none of your ancestors lived in New York City. There is a place on each site to add comments or corrections on the location.

With over 80,000 photos covering approximately 1870s to 1970s there is wide range. Imagine this concept spreading to other cities – what a great device for the researcher.  

Guess what — there is also OLDSF – San Francisco, California with such a map and connected photos.

Photos: In Queens at 31st Ave and 36th St. an apartment; a building in Manhattan at 18th Street, south side, east from and including Tenth Avenue in July 16, 1932; Madison Street, at, adjoining and west of the N.W. corner of Clinton Street. The 3-story apartment building shown, No. 247, is a free bath, photo on March 23, 1937.

Related FamilyTree.com genealogy blogs:

New York Records

NYC Tenement Life