Quite Continental

Carnegie mansion (R, current home of the Cooper-Hewitt)

Did you know that the New York Public Library had within its collections a series of panoramic photographs taken of Fifth Avenue — from start to finish — in 1911?  I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my virtual wanderings down the avenue in 1911, which coincidentally is also where my office is located in 2011.  Cars and pedestrians are frozen in time on the stately street.  Some of the buildings I can recognize, while others have been long since torn down.  The library is without its lions, St. Thomas is just being built and Mrs. Vanderbilt is still living in the mansion where Bergdorf Goodman now stands.

The images are a bit small here, but I urge you to click through and take a look for yourself at New York 100 years ago.  They are amazing.  You can find the collection here.

Knox Hat Building (currently home to HSBC)  and NYPL

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The Metropolitan Club

St. Thomas being built (R) and two Vanderbilt homes (L)

Vanderbilt home (current location of Bergdorf Goodman) and the Plaza

Met Museum