in Manhattan

Edmund V. Gillon’s 1971 Photos Capture Manhattan’s Evolving Streets and Buildings

1971 was a crucial year for Manhattan. The city was grappling with economic hardship, social unrest, and a sense of unease. Edmund V. Gillon, a keen observer of the urban landscape, documented this era with his camera, capturing both the grit and the grandeur of the city.

Gillon, a prolific author and photographer, had a deep fascination with New York City’s architecture and history. His photographs offer a glimpse into the city’s past, revealing not only the dramatic changes but also the subtle shifts that shaped its neighborhoods. In 1971, his lens captured a city in transition, a city on the cusp of reinvention.

A City of Contrasts

Manhattan in 1971 was a city of stark contrasts.  The gleaming towers of Midtown stood in sharp contrast to the decaying neighborhoods of the Lower East Side and Harlem. The World Trade Center, still under construction, symbolized both the city’s ambition and its vulnerability.  Gillon’s photographs captured these contrasts, documenting the city’s diverse neighborhoods and the people who called them home. Times Square, once a symbol of glamour and excitement, had become a seedy hub of adult entertainment and crime

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1971 saw the beginning of significant changes in Manhattan’s urban landscape.  The construction of the World Trade Center was reshaping the skyline of Lower Manhattan.  SoHo, then a gritty industrial district, was starting to attract artists and galleries, laying the groundwork for its future transformation into a trendy neighborhood. Gillon’s photographs documented these early signs of change, capturing the city’s evolving character.

The city’s infrastructure was also undergoing transformation.  The Second Avenue Subway, a long-delayed project, was finally under construction, promising to improve transportation in the eastern part of Manhattan.  Gillon’s photographs documented the construction sites and the impact of these projects on the city’s streets and neighborhoods.

The city hosted the first New York City Marathon, which started in Staten Island and finished in Central Park.  This event, captured by Gillon’s camera, marked the beginning of a now-iconic tradition.

Edmund V. Gillon’s photographs of Manhattan in 1971 provide a valuable historical record of a city in transition.  They capture the city’s complexities, its challenges, and its enduring spirit.  His work allows us to step back in time and witness a crucial moment in the city’s evolution, a moment that shaped the Manhattan we know today.

#1 The Old Control House, Bowling Green subway station, 1971.

The Old Control House, Bowling Green subway station, 1971.

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#4 Bayard-Condict Building at 65-69 Bleecker Street, 1971.

Bayard-Condict Building at 65-69 Bleecker Street, 1971.

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#5 National Association of Machinists AFL-CIO at 7 East 15th Street, 1971.

National Association of Machinists AFL-CIO at 7 East 15th Street, 1971.

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#6 Bayard-Condict Building at 65-69 Bleecker Street, 1971.

Bayard-Condict Building at 65-69 Bleecker Street, 1971.

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#7 The north side of East 4th Street between Bowery and Lafayette Street, 1971.

The north side of East 4th Street between Bowery and Lafayette Street, 1971.

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#8 Mercer Rubber Company at 68-66 Reade Street, 1971.

Mercer Rubber Company at 68-66 Reade Street, 1971.

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#10 Footbridge between the old House of Relief and ambulance annex of the New York Hospital, 1971.

Footbridge between the old House of Relief and ambulance annex of the New York Hospital, 1971.

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#11 John Boyle & Co. building at 72-70 Reade Street, 1971.

John Boyle & Co. building at 72-70 Reade Street, 1971.

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#12 The Pierre and The Sherry-Netherland seen from Central Park, 1971.

The Pierre and The Sherry-Netherland seen from Central Park, 1971.

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#13 Looking north over the East River from the East River Esplanade, 1971.

Looking north over the East River from the East River Esplanade, 1971.

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#14 The Museum of Primitive Art at 13-15 West 54th Street, Rhodes School at 9-11 West 54th Street, and 7 West 54th Street, 1971.

The Museum of Primitive Art at 13-15 West 54th Street, Rhodes School at 9-11 West 54th Street, and 7 West 54th Street, 1971.

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#15 Pierpont Morgan Library at 33 East 36th Street, 1971.

Pierpont Morgan Library at 33 East 36th Street, 1971.

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#16 Converted townhouse at 365 West 19th Street, 1971.

Converted townhouse at 365 West 19th Street, 1971.

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#19 Main branch of the New York Public Library, 1971.

Main branch of the New York Public Library, 1971.

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#20 Looking north from the main branch of the New York Public Library to 500 Fifth Avenue, 1971.

Looking north from the main branch of the New York Public Library to 500 Fifth Avenue, 1971.

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#21 Beaux Arts Institute of Design building at 304 East 44th Street, 1971.

Beaux Arts Institute of Design building at 304 East 44th Street, 1971.

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#22 Looking west on 34th Street at the demolished Third Avenue El, 1971

Looking west on 34th Street at the demolished Third Avenue El, 1971

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#23 Looking south from the steps of the New York Public Library’s main branch toward the Empire State Building, 1971.

Looking south from the steps of the New York Public Library's main branch toward the Empire State Building, 1971.

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#24 Looking west over the East River from Queens to Manhattan, 1971.

Looking west over the East River from Queens to Manhattan, 1971.

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#26 Chamber of Commerce Building at 65 Liberty Street, 1971.

Chamber of Commerce Building at 65 Liberty Street, 1971.

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#27 Church of St. Ignatius Loyola at 980 Park Avenue, 1971.

Church of St. Ignatius Loyola at 980 Park Avenue, 1971.

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#28 Church of St. Ignatius Loyola at 980 Park Avenue, 1971.

Church of St. Ignatius Loyola at 980 Park Avenue, 1971.

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#32 Community Synagogue Center at 323 East 6th Street, 1971.

Community Synagogue Center at 323 East 6th Street, 1971.

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#33 Forsythe Meats and Asia Meat Co., Little West 12th Street, 1971

Forsythe Meats and Asia Meat Co., Little West 12th Street, 1971

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#34 Pace University (New York Times Building) at 41 Park Row and Potter Building at 38 Park Row, 1971

Pace University (New York Times Building) at 41 Park Row and Potter Building at 38 Park Row, 1971

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#36 E.V. Haughwout & Company Building and New Era Building, 1971

E.V. Haughwout & Company Building and New Era Building, 1971

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#37 Church of St. Veronica, 153 Christopher Street, 1971

Church of St. Veronica, 153 Christopher Street, 1971

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#38 Museum of Primitive Art, 13-15 West 54th Street, Rhodes School, 9-11 West 54th Street, and 7 West 54th Street, 1971

Museum of Primitive Art, 13-15 West 54th Street, Rhodes School, 9-11 West 54th Street, and 7 West 54th Street, 1971

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#40 Lord & Taylor, 424 Fifth Avenue, with 500 Fifth Avenue in background, 1971

Lord & Taylor, 424 Fifth Avenue, with 500 Fifth Avenue in background, 1971

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#41 The Little Church Around the Corner, 1 East 29th Street, 1971

The Little Church Around the Corner, 1 East 29th Street, 1971

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#42 Peter Cooper monument and Cooper Union Foundation Building, 1971

Peter Cooper monument and Cooper Union Foundation Building, 1971

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#43 Little West 12th Street between Tenth Avenue and Washington Street, looking east, 1971

Little West 12th Street between Tenth Avenue and Washington Street, looking east, 1971

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#45 East River from the East River Esplanade, looking over, 1971

East River from the East River Esplanade, looking over, 1971

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#48 Madison Square Park and Metropolitan Life Tower, 1971

Madison Square Park and Metropolitan Life Tower, 1971

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#49 Flatiron Building and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company tower, 1971

Flatiron Building and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company tower, 1971

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#55 Lower Manhattan from Battery Park City, looking southeast, 1971

Lower Manhattan from Battery Park City, looking southeast, 1971

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#57 Forsythe Meats and Asia Meat Co., Little West 12th Street, 1971

Forsythe Meats and Asia Meat Co., Little West 12th Street, 1971

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#58 First National City Bank building, 55 Wall Street, 1971

First National City Bank building, 55 Wall Street, 1971

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#59 Flatiron Building Broadway entrance, 949 Broadway, 1971

Flatiron Building Broadway entrance, 949 Broadway, 1971

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#60 Midtown Manhattan, aerial view looking north on Park Avenue, 1971

Midtown Manhattan, aerial view looking north on Park Avenue, 1971

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#61 Chamber of Commerce Building, 65 Liberty Street, 1971

Chamber of Commerce Building, 65 Liberty Street, 1971

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#62 San Remo Apartments, 145-146 Central Park West, looking skyward, 1971

San Remo Apartments, 145-146 Central Park West, looking skyward, 1971

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#63 Bond Street Savings Bank building, 330 Bowery, 1971

Bond Street Savings Bank building, 330 Bowery, 1971

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#64 Old warehouses at 246, 248, and 250 South Street, 1971

Old warehouses at 246, 248, and 250 South Street, 1971

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#65 Stuyvesant Square and St. George’s Episcopal Church, 1971

Stuyvesant Square and St. George's Episcopal Church, 1971

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#67 First National City Bank building, 55 Wall Street, 1971

First National City Bank building, 55 Wall Street, 1971

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#69 The Old Control House, Bowling Green subway station, 1971

The Old Control House, Bowling Green subway station, 1971

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#72 Bayard-Condict Building, 65-69 Bleecker Street, 1971

Bayard-Condict Building, 65-69 Bleecker Street, 1971

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#73 Manhattan’s Upper East Side from Roosevelt Island, looking southwest, 1971

Manhattan's Upper East Side from Roosevelt Island, looking southwest, 1971

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#74 New York Public Library main branch to 500 Fifth Avenue, looking north, 1971

New York Public Library main branch to 500 Fifth Avenue, looking north, 1971

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#76 Helmsley Building clock and sculpture detail, 230 Park Avenue, 1971

Helmsley Building clock and sculpture detail, 230 Park Avenue, 1971

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#77 Church of Sts. Cyril & Methodius and St. Raphael, 502 West 41st Street, 1971

Church of Sts. Cyril & Methodius and St. Raphael, 502 West 41st Street, 1971

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#78 The Waverly apartment house façade, medieval imagery, 1971

The Waverly apartment house façade, medieval imagery, 1971

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#79 Peter Cooper monument and Cooper Union Foundation Building, 1971

Peter Cooper monument and Cooper Union Foundation Building, 1971

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#82 Madison Avenue façade of the Appellate Division, New York State Supreme Court, 35 East 25th Street, 1971

Madison Avenue façade of the Appellate Division, New York State Supreme Court, 35 East 25th Street, 1971

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#83 Looking south from the New York Public Library toward the Empire State Building, 1971

Looking south from the New York Public Library toward the Empire State Building, 1971

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#84 Entrance to the main branch of the New York Public Library, 1971

Entrance to the main branch of the New York Public Library, 1971

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#86 Little West 12th Street between Tenth Avenue and Washington Street, 1971

Little West 12th Street between Tenth Avenue and Washington Street, 1971

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#89 Interborough Subway sign on Park Avenue, south of 42nd Street, 1971

Interborough Subway sign on Park Avenue, south of 42nd Street, 1971

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#90 Pediment and clock over the Bowery Savings Bank entrance, 130 Bowery, 1971

Pediment and clock over the Bowery Savings Bank entrance, 130 Bowery, 1971

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#92 Cornerstone on the Master Building, 310-312 Riverside Drive, 1971

Cornerstone on the Master Building, 310-312 Riverside Drive, 1971

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#93 Caryatids on the façade of 91 Fifth Avenue, 1971

Caryatids on the façade of 91 Fifth Avenue, 1971

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#94 Allegorical statues “Sport” and “Industry” on the Hearst Magazine Building, 951-969 Eighth Avenue, 1971

Allegorical statues "Sport" and "Industry" on the Hearst Magazine Building, 951-969 Eighth Avenue, 1971

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#96 Architectural detail on the Flatiron Building, 175 Fifth Avenue, 1971

Architectural detail on the Flatiron Building, 175 Fifth Avenue, 1971

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#98 Top of the Master Building, 310-312 Riverside Drive, 1971

Top of the Master Building, 310-312 Riverside Drive, 1971

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#99 Tower of Bryant Park Hotel, 40 West 40th Street, 1971

Tower of Bryant Park Hotel, 40 West 40th Street, 1971

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#101 Mercer Street façade of 569-575 Broadway, originally Rogers Peet Store, 1971

Mercer Street façade of 569-575 Broadway, originally Rogers Peet Store, 1971

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#102 Washington Street from West 11th Street toward Westbeth Center for the Arts, 1971

Washington Street from West 11th Street toward Westbeth Center for the Arts, 1971

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#103 Clock and sculpture on the Helmsley Building, 230 Park Avenue, 1971

Clock and sculpture on the Helmsley Building, 230 Park Avenue, 1971

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#104 “Puck” statue over Lafayette Street entrance to the Puck Building, 1971

"Puck" statue over Lafayette Street entrance to the Puck Building, 1971

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#107 North on Franklin Place toward 60 White Street, 1971

North on Franklin Place toward 60 White Street, 1971

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#108 Lord & Taylor, 424 Fifth Avenue, with 500 Fifth Avenue in background, 1971

Lord & Taylor, 424 Fifth Avenue, with 500 Fifth Avenue in background, 1971

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#110 St. Paul’s Chapel steeple, with “Spirit of Communication” atop the American Telephone & Telegraph Company Building, 1971

St. Paul's Chapel steeple, with "Spirit of Communication" atop the American Telephone & Telegraph Company Building, 1971

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#111 Steeple of St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, 135 West 31st Street, with the Empire State Building, 1971

Steeple of St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, 135 West 31st Street, with the Empire State Building, 1971

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#113 Top of the Helmsley Building, 230 Park Avenue, 1971

Top of the Helmsley Building, 230 Park Avenue, 1971

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#114 Looking south from the New York Public Library’s steps toward the Empire State Building, 1971

Looking south from the New York Public Library's steps toward the Empire State Building, 1971

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#115 Mercer Street façade of 569-575 Broadway, originally Rogers Peet Store, 1971

Mercer Street façade of 569-575 Broadway, originally Rogers Peet Store, 1971

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#116 Pace University (originally the New York Times Building) at 41 Park Row and Potter Building at 38 Park Row, 1971

Pace University (originally the New York Times Building) at 41 Park Row and Potter Building at 38 Park Row, 1971

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#117 Stuyvesant Square and St. George’s Episcopal Church, 1971

Stuyvesant Square and St. George's Episcopal Church, 1971

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#118 Southwest over the East River from Roosevelt Island toward Manhattan’s Upper East Side, 1971

Southwest over the East River from Roosevelt Island toward Manhattan's Upper East Side, 1971

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#122 E.V. Haughwout & Company Building and New Era Building, 1971

E.V. Haughwout & Company Building and New Era Building, 1971

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#123 Madison Avenue façade of the Appellate Division, New York State Supreme Court, 35 East 25th Street, 1971

Madison Avenue façade of the Appellate Division, New York State Supreme Court, 35 East 25th Street, 1971

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#125 Westlake Noodle Company and East Broadway Kosher Bakery, 1971

Westlake Noodle Company and East Broadway Kosher Bakery, 1971

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#126 Stuyvesant High School, 345 East 15th Street, 1971

Stuyvesant High School, 345 East 15th Street, 1971

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#127 South from the New York Public Library’s steps toward the Empire State Building, 1971

South from the New York Public Library's steps toward the Empire State Building, 1971

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#129 Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, 1971

Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, 1971

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#130 Pierpont Morgan Library, 33 East 36th Street, 1971

Pierpont Morgan Library, 33 East 36th Street, 1971

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Written by Makayla White

An amateur content creator and dreamer. I Run, Cycle, Swim, Dance and drink a lot of Coffee.

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