Queens in the 1950s: A Photographic Journey of the Borough’s Streets, Homes, and Everyday Life

Queens in the 1950s? Imagine a place buzzing with change. It wasn’t just a part of New York City; it was a world of its own, growing and evolving every single day. From quiet neighborhoods to bustling streets, Queens was where families settled, dreams were built, and the American spirit thrived.

The 1950s saw families flocking to Queens. After the war, people wanted space, fresh air, and a place to call their own. And Queens offered just that. New homes popped up everywhere, especially in neighborhoods like Flushing, Bayside, and Jackson Heights.

Rows of tidy houses with lawns and fences became the typical sight. Kids played stickball in the streets, neighbors chatted over fences, and families gathered for barbecues on weekends. Life was simple, community-focused, and full of hope.

People from all over the world came here, bringing their traditions and customs. Greek bakeries sat next to Italian pizzerias, and Irish pubs shared streets with Jewish delis. This mix of cultures wasn’t just accepted; it was celebrated. It was common to hear different languages spoken on the street, smell exotic spices in the air, and experience a world of traditions without ever leaving the borough.

Entertainment and Leisure

Life in Queens wasn’t all work and no play. The borough offered plenty of ways to have fun. In the summer, families flocked to Rockaway Beach to soak up the sun and enjoy the cool ocean breeze. Coney Island, with its iconic amusement park, was just a subway ride away, offering thrills and excitement for all ages.

For a taste of culture, folks headed to Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. This vast green space hosted the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair and remained a popular spot for recreation, with its iconic Unisphere reminding everyone of the world’s interconnectedness.

Queens was a foodie’s paradise even back then. The diverse population meant a diverse menu. From the classic New York slice at local pizzerias to authentic Chinese dim sum in Flushing, there was something for everyone. Diners served up hearty American meals, while German beer gardens offered a taste of Europe.

Transportation and Growth

The 1950s were a time of growth for Queens, and transportation played a big role. The subway system expanded, connecting the borough to other parts of the city, and making commuting easier. Buses crisscrossed the streets, and more and more people started owning cars. This mobility meant that Queens was no longer just a bedroom community; it was a place where people lived, worked, and played.

#1 Cars and traffic on Route 25 in Queens, 1950s

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#2 63rd Drive and Woodhaven Boulevard, Queens, 1950s.

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#3 A luxury home on 193rd St, Queens, 1950s.

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#4 Main Street in Flushing, Queens with storefronts, buses, and shoppers, 1950s

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#5 New York International Airport, commonly called Idlewild Airport but renamed John F. Kennedy International in 1963, Circa 1950s.

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#6 An aerial view of Rego Park, Elmhurst, and Corona in Queens with the Long Island Expressway visible, 1957.

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#7 The lobby entrance with escalators at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens after a remodel, 1959.

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#8 An aerial of Idlewild Airport, now John F. Kennedy Airport, New York terminal building, 1950s.

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#9 Queensboro Bridge: II, Long Island City, Queens, looking southwest from pier at 41st Road, 1950s

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#10 87th Street and 34th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#11 95th Street and 30th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#12 130th Street and Jamaica Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#13 133rd Street and Jamaica Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#14 143rd Street and 84th Drive, Queens, 1950s.

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#15 143rd Street and 84th Drive, Queens, 1950s.

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#16 Hillside Avenue and 166th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#17 Astoria Boulevard and 37th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#18 Astoria Boulevard and 37th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#19 Corona Avenue and 90th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#20 Corona Avenue and 92nd Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#21 Courtney Avenue and Auburndale Lane, Queens, 1950s.

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#22 Court Square and Jackson Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#23 Court Square and East Lane, Queens, 1950s.

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#24 21st Street and Jackson Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#25 23rd Street and Hoyt Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#26 27th Avenue and 18th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#27 29th Street and Ditmars Boulevard, Queens, 1950s.

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#28 32nd Street and 54th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#29 32nd Avenue and 87th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#30 35th Avenue and 76th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#31 39th Avenue and 45th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#32 46th Road and 11th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#33 63rd Drive and Austin Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#34 Elderts Lane and Sunrise Highway, Queens, 1950s.

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#35 Gothic Drive and 168th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#36 Grand Central Parkway and Utopia Parkway, Queens, 1950s.

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#37 Grand Central Parkway and Utopia Parkway, Queens, 1950s.

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#38 Grenfell Street and 82nd Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#39 Kissena Boulevard and Juniper Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#40 Kissena Boulevard and 64th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#41 Main Street and 37th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#42 Main Street and 39th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#43 Main Street and 40th Road, Queens, 1950s.

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#44 Main Street and 41st Road, Queens, 1950s.

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#45 New York Boulevard and 109th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#46 Northern Boulevard and Linden Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#47 Northern Boulevard and Main Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#48 Northern Boulevard and Prince Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#49 Northern Boulevard and 37th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#50 Northern Boulevard and 113th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#51 Northern Boulevard and 223rd Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#52 Parsons Boulevard and Goethals Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#53 Queens Boulevard and 55th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#54 Queens Boulevard and 82nd Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#55 Queens Boulevard and 82nd Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#56 Queens Boulevard and 87th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#57 Queens Boulevard and 70th Road, Queens, 1950s.

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#58 Queens Boulevard and 75th Road, Queens, 1950s.

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#59 Queens Boulevard and 75th Road, Queens, 1950s.

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#60 Queens Boulevard and 75th Road, Queens, 1950s.

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#61 Queens Boulevard and 50th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#62 Queens College, Queens, 1950s.

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#63 Queens College, Queens, 1950s.

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#64 Ramblersville, Queens, 1950s.

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#65 Rockaway Boulevard and Liberty Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#66 Rockaway Boulevard and 94th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#67 Rodman Street and 58th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#68 Rodman Street and 58th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#69 Roosevelt Avenue and Bowne Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#70 Roosevelt Avenue and Lawrence Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#71 Roosevelt Avenue and Main Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#72 Seaside Avenue and Ocean Promenade, Queens, 1950s.

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#73 South Road and 58th Street, Queens, 1950s.

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#74 Steinway Street and Broadway, Queens, 1950s.

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#75 Steinway Street and 23rd Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#76 Steinway Street and 24th Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#77 Sunnyside Railroad Yard, Queens, 1950s.

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#78 Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, 1950s.

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#79 Union Hall Street and Archer Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#80 Union Hall Street and Jamaica Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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#81 Van Doren Street and Horace Harding Boulevard, Queens, 1950s.

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#82 View towards the west from Queensboro Plaza Station, 1950s.

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#83 IRT Subway, Flushing Line, 1950s.

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#84 Queensboro Plaza, Queens, 1950s.

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#85 Jamaica Railroad Station tracks, 1950s.

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#86 Sunnyside Yard, 1950s.

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#87 People waiting for an IRT subway train, 1950s.

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#88 View from the top of the Queensboro Plaza Station towards Manhattan, 1950s.

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#89 Queens, 1950s.

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#90 46-02 21st Street and 46th Avenue, 1950s.

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#91 46-02 21st Street and 46th Avenue, 1950s.

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#92 23rd Street, 24th Street and Jackson Avenue, 1950s.

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#93 209-16 Jamaica Avenue and 209th Street, 1950s.

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#94 Jamaica Avenue and 166th Street, 1950s.

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#95 Jamaica Avenue and 166th Street, 1950s.

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#96 Junction Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue, 1950s.

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#97 Desecration of tombstones at Mount Carmel Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery in Queens, New York City, 1950s.

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#98 Cars drive along the Belt Parkway close to Douglaston in Queens, New York, 1950s.

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#99 Park Briar development at 110-45 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, 1952.

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#100 Three rowboats tethered to the rear of houses in Ramblersville, Howard Beach, Queens, New York City, 1950s.

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#101 High angle view of a housing development in Flushing, Queens, New York City, 1950s.

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#102 A street under a blanket of snow in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, 1958.

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#103 View of the International Arrivals Terminal of the New York International Airport, in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, 1959.

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#104 A lone fisherman in the rain on the bank of the Flushing River in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York City, 1959.

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#105 Pedestrians, cars, buses, and delivery trucks in the 82nd Street shopping district, Jackson Heights, Queens, 1957.

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#106 An aerial view across Flushing Bay to LaGuardia Airport, College Point, Queens, and the Manhattan skyline in the distance, 1950s.

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#107 139th Street and 91st Avenue, Queens, 1950s.

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