New Map of New York City

A detailed tourist map of Manhattan from the early 20th century.

This informative map of Manhattan and portions of the surrounding boroughs was issued around 1905 to promote the Broadway Central Hotel (formerly, the Grand Central Hotel). Numerous transportation options (elevated lines, subways, steam railroads, ferries, etc.) are noted throughout the image. Parks and public squares, popular destinations for visitors and residents alike, are colored in yellow.

A fascinating variety of locations of interest are labeled throughout the image – industrial concerns, civic institutions, cultural venues, and more. Of particular note are the numerous facilities across Blackwell’s Island, Brooklyn’s large Navy Yard, the Broadway Central Hotel, and the nearby Wanamaker’s Department Store.

The map was distributed to guests of the Broadway Central Hotel in the first decade of the 20th century, one of New York’s most transformative periods. Though undated, the reference to the IRT subway indicates an earliest possible date of 1904. At least two other versions were also issued – one without Subways in the title (presumably earlier) and a second, later, that prominently notes Penn Station (completed 1910).