Historical Maps of New York City

This was the land of the Lenape people in the 16th century, when the first European explorers visited the region. At the beginning of the 17th century the Dutch West India Company decided to establish a trading post in Manatūs (Manhattan). The first families arrived in 1624 and later the Dutch settlement was named New Amsterdam.

In 1674, the English took control of the city and renamed it New York. After the Independence War (1775–83), New York was established as the capital of the United States of America. In 1789, George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the nation. New York also hosted the first meeting of Congress and the first sessions of the Supreme Court. In 1790, the nation's capital was transferred to Philadelphia.

Historical Maps and Panoramas of New York City
1639 - Map of New York region - Noort Rivier in Niew Neerlandt

1639 - Map of New York Region, Manatūs by Joan Vinckeboons

1650 - Novum Amsterodamum, Arnoldus Montanus

1661 - Towne of Mannados or New Amsterdam

1664 - Nieuw Amsterdam by Johannes Vingboons

1695 - Map of New York attributed to John Miller

1729 - Plan of New York surveyed by James Lyne

1730 - Neu Jorck sive Neu Amsterdam, Matthaeus Seutter

1736 - View of Fort George with the City of New York

1752 - New York and Perthamboy Harbour, by Emanuel Bowen

1776 - A plan of the city and environs of New York

1789 - Plan of the City of New York, John McComb

1807 - Plan of New York, from log book kept by Major Kirkham

1834 - Panorama of New York, illustration by Robert Burford

1848 - Broadway, Panoramic View from St. Paul’s Church

1849 - New York City, looking south by C. Bachman

1851 - Bird's eye view of New-York & Brooklyn by John Bachmann

1851 - City of New York, illustration by Heine, J. Kummer & Döpler

1856 - City of New York, illustration by Charles Parsons

1873 - Panorama of New York, Ferd. Mayer & Sons

1873 - Bird's-eye View of New York, George Schlegel

1873 - Central Park in a Panorama of New York, George Schlegel

1874 - Panorama of the City of New York by John Bachmann

1876 - City of New York, Parsons & Atwater

1879 - New York, illustration by J. W. Williams

1879 - City of Brooklyn by G.R. Parsons

1883 - City of New York, panorama, Currier & Ives

1884 - City of New York, bird's-eye-view, Currier & Ives

1889 - New York, panorama of the City, Parsons & Atwater

1880s - City of New York, panorama, L.W. Schmidt

1905 - Aerial image of New York by Richard Rummell

1905 - Greater New York, illustration by Charles Hart

1915 - Aerial image of Lower Manhattan, M.J. Connors

1921 - New York Skyline from Jersey City, photograph

1932 - Aerial photograph of Midtown Manhattan, Aerial Explorations

1933 - Looking north from the Empire State Building, photograph

1945 - North Manhattan, view from Empire State Building