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in Manhattan

A Photographic Journey Through 1979 Manhattan with Edmund V. Gillon

by Makayla White

1979 was a year of dynamic change and renewed energy in Manhattan. The city, having weathered the storms of the previous years, was embracing a new era of confidence and creativity. Edmund V. Gillon, with his camera as his faithful companion, documented this year, capturing the city’s evolving spirit and the diverse tapestry of life unfolding within its boundaries.

Gillon, a dedicated observer of New York City’s architecture and urban environment, possessed a unique ability to capture the essence of the city through his photography. He focused not only on the iconic landmarks and grand structures but also on the everyday details that gave each neighborhood its distinct personality. In 1979, his lens captured a city in motion, a city shedding its past struggles and embracing a future filled with possibility.

A City Revitalized

The economic recovery was gaining momentum in 1979, breathing new life into Manhattan. New businesses were opening, construction projects were transforming the skyline, and a sense of optimism permeated the air. The city’s streets were alive with activity, a testament to the resilience and determination of its residents.

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Gillon’s photographs documented this revitalization, capturing the bustling streets, the construction cranes reaching for the sky, and the faces of New Yorkers who were embracing the city’s renewed energy.

A Cultural Melting Pot

1979 was a year of cultural ferment in Manhattan. The city’s diverse communities were expressing themselves through art, music, and fashion, creating a vibrant cultural tapestry. The punk rock and new wave scenes continued to thrive, while hip-hop was emerging as a powerful force in the city’s cultural landscape.

Gillon’s photographs captured the energy of this cultural melting pot. He documented the city’s diverse music venues, art galleries, and street scenes, showcasing the creativity and innovation that were flourishing in Manhattan.

The transformation of Manhattan’s neighborhoods continued in 1979. SoHo, now a firmly established artistic hub, was attracting a new wave of residents and businesses. The cast-iron buildings, once symbols of the city’s industrial past, were now home to trendy boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. Gillon’s photographs documented this ongoing evolution, capturing the unique character of SoHo and its vibrant community.

Other neighborhoods were also undergoing change. The East Village, once a gritty and neglected area, was becoming a center for counterculture and artistic expression. Gillon’s photographs captured the raw energy of the East Village, documenting its street art, music venues, and the diverse people who called it home.

#1 St. James School at 37 St. James Place, 1979.

St. James School at 37 St. James Place, 1979.

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#2 Children playing in water from a fire hydrant, 1979.

Children playing in water from a fire hydrant, 1979.

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#3 The Cloisters at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, 1979.

The Cloisters at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, 1979.

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#4 172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

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#5 Engine Company No. 39, Ladder Company No. 16, and Park East Synagogue, 1979.

Engine Company No. 39, Ladder Company No. 16, and Park East Synagogue, 1979.

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#6 Looking north from Park Avenue and 41st Street to the Pan Am Building, 1979.

Looking north from Park Avenue and 41st Street to the Pan Am Building, 1979.

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#7 Engine Company No. 39, Ladder Company No. 16 at 157 East 67th Street, 1979.

Engine Company No. 39, Ladder Company No. 16 at 157 East 67th Street, 1979.

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#8 St. Luke’s Place, 1979.

St. Luke's Place, 1979.

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#9 Looking across Seventh Avenue South to the intersection of Bleecker and Barrow Streets, 1979.

Looking across Seventh Avenue South to the intersection of Bleecker and Barrow Streets, 1979.

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#10 Schermerhorn Building at 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979.

Schermerhorn Building at 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979.

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#11 St. James School at 37 St. James Place, 1979.

St. James School at 37 St. James Place, 1979.

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#12 Schermerhorn Building at 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979.

Schermerhorn Building at 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979.

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#13 First Chinese Presbyterian Church at 61 Henry Street, 1979.

First Chinese Presbyterian Church at 61 Henry Street, 1979.

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#14 Wendell L. Willkie Building of Freedom House at 20 West 40th Street, 1979.

Wendell L. Willkie Building of Freedom House at 20 West 40th Street, 1979.

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#15 East River Esplanade and Waterside Plaza, 1979.

East River Esplanade and Waterside Plaza, 1979.

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#16 Federal Reserve Bank of New York at 33 Liberty Street, 1979.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York at 33 Liberty Street, 1979.

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#17 New York Stock Exchange at 8 Broad Street, 1979.

New York Stock Exchange at 8 Broad Street, 1979.

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#18 172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

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#19 Federal Reserve Bank of New York at 33 Liberty Street, 1979.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York at 33 Liberty Street, 1979.

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#20 A portrait of a man and a dog sitting in the backyard of 208 East 35th Street, 1979.

A portrait of a man and a dog sitting in the backyard of 208 East 35th Street, 1979.

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#21 Federal Reserve Bank of New York at 33 Liberty Street, 1979.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York at 33 Liberty Street, 1979.

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#22 Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, 1979.

Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, 1979.

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#23 Looking east across Fifth Avenue from Central Park to the Frick Collection, 1979.

Looking east across Fifth Avenue from Central Park to the Frick Collection, 1979.

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#24 Interior of 172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

Interior of 172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

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#25 Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, 1979.

Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, 1979.

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#26 Interior of 172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

Interior of 172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

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#27 Interior of 172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

Interior of 172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979.

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#28 Looking south from the Brooklyn Bridge walkway to Lower Manhattan, 1979.

Looking south from the Brooklyn Bridge walkway to Lower Manhattan, 1979.

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#29 Horse-drawn carriage on Fifth Avenue in front of The Frick Collection, 1979.

Horse-drawn carriage on Fifth Avenue in front of The Frick Collection, 1979.

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#30 Looking north from the South Cove of the Battery Park City esplanade to the twin towers of the World Trade Center, 1979.

Looking north from the South Cove of the Battery Park City esplanade to the twin towers of the World Trade Center, 1979.

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#31 Looking north on Park Avenue to the MetLife Building, 1979.

Looking north on Park Avenue to the MetLife Building, 1979.

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#32 Schermerhorn Building at 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979.

Schermerhorn Building at 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979.

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#33 Duane Park with the Schepp Building on the right, 1979.

Duane Park with the Schepp Building on the right, 1979.

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#34 Looking west from Duane Park to Independence Plaza North, 1979.

Looking west from Duane Park to Independence Plaza North, 1979.

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#35 Broadway Mfrs. Supply Co. at 488-492 Broadway, 1979.

Broadway Mfrs. Supply Co. at 488-492 Broadway, 1979.

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#36 142 Greene Street, 1979.

142 Greene Street, 1979.

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#37 East Broadway between Catherine and Market Streets, 1979.

East Broadway between Catherine and Market Streets, 1979.

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#38 Carnegie Hall, 1979.

Carnegie Hall, 1979.

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#39 68 Jane Street, 1979.

68 Jane Street, 1979.

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#40 St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowery, 1979.

St. Mark's-in-the-Bowery, 1979.

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#41 First Chinese Presbyterian Church, 61 Henry Street, 1979

First Chinese Presbyterian Church, 61 Henry Street, 1979

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#42 Jos. Scott Trucking Corp., 31-33 Great Jones Street, 1979

Jos. Scott Trucking Corp., 31-33 Great Jones Street, 1979

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#43 Schermerhorn Building, 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979

Schermerhorn Building, 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979

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#44 Seventh Avenue South to 283, 285, 287, and 289 Bleecker Street, looking across, 1979

Seventh Avenue South to 283, 285, 287, and 289 Bleecker Street, looking across, 1979

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#45 St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 1979

St. Patrick's Cathedral, 1979

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#46 New York City Hall, south façade, 1979

New York City Hall, south façade, 1979

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#47 Ninth Avenue, Hudson Street, and West 14th Street, looking northeast, 1979

Ninth Avenue, Hudson Street, and West 14th Street, looking northeast, 1979

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#48 Varieties Theatre, 110-112 Third Avenue, 1979

Varieties Theatre, 110-112 Third Avenue, 1979

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#49 Woolworth Building and the World Trade Center, 1979

Woolworth Building and the World Trade Center, 1979

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#50 “Transportation” on Grand Central Terminal, with Chrysler Building, 1979

"Transportation" on Grand Central Terminal, with Chrysler Building, 1979

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#51 Javits Center lobby, 1979

Javits Center lobby, 1979

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#52 Men playing dominoes on the sidewalk, 1979

Men playing dominoes on the sidewalk, 1979

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#53 Wendell L. Willkie Building of Freedom House, 20 West 40th Street, 1979

Wendell L. Willkie Building of Freedom House, 20 West 40th Street, 1979

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#54 New York Stock Exchange, 8 Broad Street, 1979

New York Stock Exchange, 8 Broad Street, 1979

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#55 Appellate Division, New York State Supreme Court, 35 East 25th Street, 1979

Appellate Division, New York State Supreme Court, 35 East 25th Street, 1979

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#56 Harrison Street Houses, 25-41 Harrison Street, 1979

Harrison Street Houses, 25-41 Harrison Street, 1979

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#57 Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge Park, looking west, 1979

Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge Park, looking west, 1979

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#58 Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, 1979

Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, 1979

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#59 Seventh Avenue South to 283, 285, 287, and 289 Bleecker Street, looking across, 1979

Seventh Avenue South to 283, 285, 287, and 289 Bleecker Street, looking across, 1979

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#60 Chanin Building, 122 East 42nd Street, 1979

Chanin Building, 122 East 42nd Street, 1979

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#61 Fifth Avenue from East 27th Street, looking north, 1979

Fifth Avenue from East 27th Street, looking north, 1979

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#62 Manhattan Bridge arch and colonnade, 1979

Manhattan Bridge arch and colonnade, 1979

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#63 Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge Park, looking west, 1979

Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge Park, looking west, 1979

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#64 Manhattan Bridge arch and colonnade, 1979

Manhattan Bridge arch and colonnade, 1979

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#65 484-490 Broome Street, 1979

484-490 Broome Street, 1979

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#66 Upper East Side of Manhattan from Lighthouse Park, looking southwest, 1979

Upper East Side of Manhattan from Lighthouse Park, looking southwest, 1979

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#67 Gansevoort Market Historic District, 1979

Gansevoort Market Historic District, 1979

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#68 150 Fifth Avenue, 1979

150 Fifth Avenue, 1979

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#69 Civic Center, aerial view looking northeast, 1979

Civic Center, aerial view looking northeast, 1979

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#70 East River Esplanade and Waterside Plaza, 1979

East River Esplanade and Waterside Plaza, 1979

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#71 Duane and Greenwich Streets, southeast corner, 1979

Duane and Greenwich Streets, southeast corner, 1979

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#72 Church Street between White and Walker Streets, 1979

Church Street between White and Walker Streets, 1979

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#73 Men playing dominoes on the sidewalk, 1979

Men playing dominoes on the sidewalk, 1979

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#74 The Cloisters, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, 1979

The Cloisters, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, 1979

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#75 Tudor City and its park from the East 42nd Street underpass, looking northeast, 1979

Tudor City and its park from the East 42nd Street underpass, looking northeast, 1979

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#76 Horse-drawn carriage in front of The Frick Collection, 1979

Horse-drawn carriage in front of The Frick Collection, 1979

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#77 World Trade Center from Liberty State Park, New Jersey, 1979

World Trade Center from Liberty State Park, New Jersey, 1979

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#78 Wendell L. Willkie Building of Freedom House, 20 West 40th Street, 1979

Wendell L. Willkie Building of Freedom House, 20 West 40th Street, 1979

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#79 New York City Hall, south façade, 1979

New York City Hall, south façade, 1979

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#80 Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, 1979

Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, 1979

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#81 Reflection of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in windows of Olympic Tower, 645 Fifth Avenue, 1979

Reflection of St. Patrick's Cathedral in windows of Olympic Tower, 645 Fifth Avenue, 1979

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#82 Central Park Zoo, 1979

Central Park Zoo, 1979

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#83 The Chrysler Building and the East River, 1979

The Chrysler Building and the East River, 1979

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#84 NYU Institute of Fine Arts, 1 East 78th Street, 1979

NYU Institute of Fine Arts, 1 East 78th Street, 1979

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#85 Trinity Church, 1979

Trinity Church, 1979

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#86 Portico Place, 143 West 13th Street, 1979

Portico Place, 143 West 13th Street, 1979

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#87 Harry De Jur Playhouse, 1979

Harry De Jur Playhouse, 1979

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#88 172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979

172-176 Norfolk Street, 1979

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#89 Dakota Apartments, 1 West 72nd Street, 1979

Dakota Apartments, 1 West 72nd Street, 1979

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#90 600 Park Avenue, 1979

600 Park Avenue, 1979

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#91 Forward Building, 173-175 East Broadway, 1979

Forward Building, 173-175 East Broadway, 1979

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#92 Jos. Scott Trucking Corp., 31-33 Great Jones Street, 1979

Jos. Scott Trucking Corp., 31-33 Great Jones Street, 1979

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#93 130 East 64th Street, 1979

130 East 64th Street, 1979

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#94 Entrance to the Daily News Building, 220 East 42nd Street, 1979

Entrance to the Daily News Building, 220 East 42nd Street, 1979

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#95 Verizon Building, 140 West Street, 1979

Verizon Building, 140 West Street, 1979

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#96 Madison Square Park, 1979

Madison Square Park, 1979

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#97 South from Sixth Avenue and West 4th Street to 2 Cornelia Street, 1979

South from Sixth Avenue and West 4th Street to 2 Cornelia Street, 1979

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#98 Aerial view looking northeast over the Civic Center, 1979

Aerial view looking northeast over the Civic Center, 1979

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#99 Harrison Street Houses, 25-41 Harrison Street, 1979

Harrison Street Houses, 25-41 Harrison Street, 1979

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#100 19-25 St. Mark’s Place, 1979

19-25 St. Mark's Place, 1979

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#101 Rockefeller University, 1270 York Avenue, 1979

Rockefeller University, 1270 York Avenue, 1979

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#102 Twin Towers of the World Trade Center from Liberty State Park, New Jersey, 1979

Twin Towers of the World Trade Center from Liberty State Park, New Jersey, 1979

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#103 South on Fifth Avenue from the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps, 1979

South on Fifth Avenue from the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps, 1979

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#104 Northwest from Columbus Park toward the Criminal Courts Building, 1979

Northwest from Columbus Park toward the Criminal Courts Building, 1979

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#105 Schermerhorn Building, 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979

Schermerhorn Building, 376-380 Lafayette Street, 1979

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#106 Southwest over the East River toward Manhattan’s Upper East Side from Lighthouse Park, 1979

Southwest over the East River toward Manhattan's Upper East Side from Lighthouse Park, 1979

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#107 International Center of Photography, 1130 Fifth Avenue, 94th Street façade, 1979

International Center of Photography, 1130 Fifth Avenue, 94th Street façade, 1979

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#108 Canal Jean Co., originally C.G. Gunther’s Sons Store, 502-504 Broadway, 1979

Canal Jean Co., originally C.G. Gunther's Sons Store, 502-504 Broadway, 1979

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#109 Northwest from Columbus Park toward the Criminal Courts Building, 1979

Northwest from Columbus Park toward the Criminal Courts Building, 1979

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#110 West on Barclay Street between Broadway and Church Street, 1979

West on Barclay Street between Broadway and Church Street, 1979

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#111 Aerial view looking northeast over the Civic Center, 1979

Aerial view looking northeast over the Civic Center, 1979

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#112 416-418 Sixth Avenue and C.O. Bigelow Chemists at 412-414 Sixth Avenue, 1979

416-418 Sixth Avenue and C.O. Bigelow Chemists at 412-414 Sixth Avenue, 1979

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#113 Lone Star Cafe, 61 Fifth Avenue, 1979

Lone Star Cafe, 61 Fifth Avenue, 1979

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#114 Central Park Zoo, 1979

Central Park Zoo, 1979

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#115 Duane Park with Schepp Building, 1979

Duane Park with Schepp Building, 1979

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#116 North from Park Avenue and 41st Street to the Pan Am Building, 1979

North from Park Avenue and 41st Street to the Pan Am Building, 1979

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#117 Hebrew Actor’s Union, 31 East 7th Street, 1979

Hebrew Actor's Union, 31 East 7th Street, 1979

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#118 Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 33 Liberty Street, 1979

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 33 Liberty Street, 1979

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#119 Southeast corner of Duane and Greenwich Streets, 1979

Southeast corner of Duane and Greenwich Streets, 1979

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#120 West over the East River toward Lower Manhattan from what is now Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 1979

West over the East River toward Lower Manhattan from what is now Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 1979

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#121 NYU Institute of Fine Arts, 1 East 78th Street, 1979

NYU Institute of Fine Arts, 1 East 78th Street, 1979

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#122 Northeast from East 41st Street to the United Nations Headquarters, 1979

Northeast from East 41st Street to the United Nations Headquarters, 1979

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#123 East in Central Park Zoo toward the Sea Lion Pool and the Arsenal Building, 1979

East in Central Park Zoo toward the Sea Lion Pool and the Arsenal Building, 1979

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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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