Municipal Building Under Construction, Civic Center

Photo shows the Municipal Building under construction in the Civic Center, New York City. Copyright 1912 by Detroit Publishing Company. Source: Photographic prints from Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

The Manhattan Municipal Building is 40 stories high and was built between 1909 and 1917 to accommodate the growing needs for government offices in Manhattan. It began to be occupied in 1913.

The Tweed Courthouse, former New York County Courthouse, at 52 Chambers Street is in the foreground. Its construction began in 1861 and it was completed in 1881. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. The Hall of Records Building (Surrogate’s Court) at 31 Chambers Street, was completed in 1907. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. The City Hall is to the right. Behind Municipal Building (enlargement below) we can see the Technical Press, the German Herold building and the Manhattan Bridge.