Lower Manhattan Waterfront 1930s: New York in Color

Cruise back to the 1930s with this breathtaking color footage of Lower Manhattan’s waterfront, filmed from a boat drifting along the Hudson River. This vibrant reel unveils stunning views: Battery Park’s green expanse, where Dutch settlers founded Nieuw Amsterdam under Peter Stuyvesant before it became New York; Clinton Castle, its roof still intact, hosting the New York Aquarium until 1941; and the bustling Staten Island Ferry weaving through the slips. Pass by the IWW building and the New York State Canal Building, icons of a thriving port city, all aglow in rare hues for the era. Amid a time when the city council eyed Clinton Castle for demolition, this film captures a bustling, unspoiled skyline. A treasure for history buffs, New York enthusiasts, and maritime fans, it’s a vivid snapshot of the Big Apple’s waterfront glory days.