What Queens looked like in the 1940s through Stunning Vintage Photos

Queens in the 1940s wasn’t just a borough of New York City; it was a world of its own. Families spilled out of the crowded city, seeking space and fresh air in this collection of towns and villages. It was a place where corner stores knew your name and kids played stickball in the streets. Let’s take a walk through a typical day in 1940s Queens and see what life was like.

The smell of fresh bread from local bakeries like Ebinger’s and Cushman’s filled the air as families started their day. Dads, many of them veterans returning from World War II, headed off to work in the city, often in suits and fedoras. Moms, in their house dresses, prepared breakfast and got the kids ready for school.

Breakfast was simple but hearty. Think eggs, toast with butter and jam, maybe some bacon or sausage. Coffee for the adults, milk for the kids. The radio played news and popular tunes, keeping everyone company as they ate.

Neighborhood Life

Kids walked or biked to school, greeting friends along the way. Schools like Newtown High School and Jamaica High School were bustling with students eager to learn. After school, the streets came alive with games like stickball, hopscotch, and jump rope. Parks, like Flushing Meadows Corona Park (home to the 1939 World’s Fair), offered wide open spaces for running and playing.

Evenings and Entertainment

As evening approached, families gathered for dinner. Pot roast, meatloaf, and chicken were common meals, often accompanied by mashed potatoes and vegetables from local gardens. After dinner, families might listen to the radio, play board games, or read.

For entertainment, many headed to the local movie theaters. The Midway Theatre in Forest Hills and the Valencia Theatre in Jamaica were popular spots, showcasing the latest Hollywood films. Others enjoyed dancing at places like the Roseland Ballroom in Astoria.

Weekends were for family outings. Jones Beach, with its miles of sand and boardwalk, was a favorite destination for swimming and sunbathing. Others enjoyed picnicking in Flushing Meadows Corona Park or exploring the Queens Botanical Garden.

Sports were also a big part of life in Queens. The Brooklyn Dodgers, though not technically in Queens, were the local baseball team, and Ebbets Field was just a subway ride away. Horse racing enthusiasts flocked to Aqueduct Racetrack, placing bets and hoping for a big win.

The 1940s were a time of significant growth for Queens. The construction of the Long Island Expressway and other major roads made it easier for people to commute to the city and beyond. New housing developments, like Levittown, sprung up, offering affordable homes for returning veterans and their families.

#1 12th Street and North 27th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#2 4th Street and 27th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 6th Avenue and 150th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 6th Avenue and 150th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#5 6th Road and 151st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#6 6th Road and 152nd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 14th Avenue and 118th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 14th Avenue and 121st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9 14th Avenue and 147th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10 20th Avenue and 124th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11 1st Street and Astoria Boulevard, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12 1st Street and Astoria Boulevard, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 75th Place and Formanville Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14 80th Street and 37th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 82nd Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 82nd Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 82nd Street and 30th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 86th Street and Liberty Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 87th Road and 80th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#20 88th Avenue and Ransom Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#21 88th Street and Liberty Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#22 89th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#23 90th Avenue and 161st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#24 90th Street and 48th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#25 91st Avenue and 168th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26 93rd Avenue and 172nd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27 93rd Avenue and 173rd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28 94th Street and 32nd Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 99th Street and 41st Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 101st Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31 101st Street and Liberty Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 101st Avenue and West End Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#33 104th Street and 41st Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 109th Road and 191st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#35 111th Street and Corona Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#36 111th Street and 46th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#37 111th Street and 51st Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#38 111th Street and 53rd Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#39 111th Street and 55th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#40 111th Street and 54th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#41 111th Street and 56th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#42 122nd Street and 20th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#43 122nd Street and 21st Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#44 124th Street and 21st Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#45 West Drive and Alston Place, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#46 126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#47 131st Street and Hillside Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#48 144th Avenue and 184th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#49 Astoria Boulevard and 31st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#50 Broadway and St. James Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#51 Broadway and Victor Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#52 Broadway and Elmhurst Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#53 Broadway and 74th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#54 Broadway and 75th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#55 Corona Avenue and 108th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#56 Corona Avenue and 111th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#57 Douglaston, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#58 Douglaston Parkway and 42nd Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#59 Dry Harbor Road and Penelope Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#60 Dry Harbor Road and Penelope Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#61 21st Street and 40th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#62 21st Street and 45th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#63 21st Street and 46th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#64 21st Street and 24th Drive, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#65 21st Street and 46th Road, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#66 22nd Street and Bridge Plaza North, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#67 23rd Avenue and 125th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#68 24th Avenue and 24th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#69 24th Drive and 19th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#70 29th Street and 40th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#71 30th Street and 40th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#72 34th Avenue and 72nd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#73 38th Avenue and 34th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#74 41st Street and 19th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#75 43rd Street and 21st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#76 43rd Avenue and 114th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#77 47th Avenue and 45th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#78 47th Street and Broadway, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#79 48th Avenue and 111th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#80 48th Street and Laurel Hill Boulevard, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#81 49th Avenue and 21st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#82 52nd Street and Queens Boulevard, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#83 61st Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#84 Fort Totten, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#85 Fort Totten, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#86 Gettysburg Street and Braddock Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#87 Grand Central Parkway and Union Turnpike, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#88 Grand Central Parkway and 31st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#89 Grand Central Parkway and 48th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#90 Greenpoint Avenue and Gale Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#91 Greenpoint Avenue and Review Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#92 Hillside Avenue and 144th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#93 Hillside Avenue and 153rd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#94 Hillside Avenue and 161st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#95 Horace Harding Boulevard and Colonial Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#96 Horace Harding Boulevard and 136th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#97 Hoyt Avenue and 23rd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#98 Hoyt Avenue and 23rd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#99 Hoyt Avenue and 23rd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#100 Hoyt Avenue and 24th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#101 Hoyt Avenue and 27th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#102 Hunter Street and 28th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#103 Hoyt Avenue and 29th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#104 Hoyt Avenue and 29th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#105 Hoyt Avenue and 31st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#106 Hoyt Avenue and 31st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#107 Hoyt Avenue and 31st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#108 Hoyt Avenue and 31st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#109 Hoyt Avenue and 29th Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#110 Hoyt Avenue and 31st Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#111 Jamaica Avenue and New York Boulevard, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#112 Jamaica Avenue and New York Boulevard, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#113 Northern Boulevard and Main Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#114 Queens Boulevard and 55th Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#115 Queens Boulevard and 52nd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#116 Queens Boulevard and 52nd Street, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#117 Hunters Point subway station, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#118 Court House Square station, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#119 Woodside station, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#120 New York World’s Fair, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#121 41-65 Main Street and Sanford Avenue, Queens, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#122 Buses, taxis, and cars outside the main building of LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York City, 1940s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#123 Department of Sanitation trucks with plows kept the roads clear near Kew Gardens in Queens, New York City after a blizzard, 1948.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#124 Corner of Roosevelt Avenue and Janet Place, including the Flushing River and Conduit Concrete Company, Queens, 1949.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote