After the Storm: New York City in Photos

By Carrie McBride, Communications
January 27, 2022

Compared to much of the state (hello Syracuse and Buffalo), New York City's annual snowfall is nothing to brag about, but most winters bring about a storm or two that dumps enough snow to slow the city down and, every few years, a significant, debilitating blizzard. Let's take a look back at photos of New York after a snowstorm. These photographs, from NYPL's vast Digital Collections, go as far back as 1895 and show some of the delights and challenges that snow brings to the city that never sleeps.

FIRST COMES THE SNOW...

Snow fall on New York street as seen from above

Snow fall, New York, NY. Photo by Morris Huberland. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 5750892

New York City, snowstorm seen from the bus, Third Avenue

New York City, snowstorm seen from the bus, Third Avenue. Photo © Bedrich Grunzweig - grunzwiegphoto.com. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 57620659

park bench covered in snow at night

Park bench at night. Photo by Morris Huberland. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 5762312

Flat-Iron corner after snow storm

Flatiron corner after snow storm, New York. (1905). Photo by Detroit Photographic Company. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 804863

Fifth Avenue, after a snow storm, New York

Fifth Avenue, after a snow storm, New York. (1905). Photo by Detroit Photographic Co. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 809696

NEXT COMES THE FUN!

young men in a snowball fight

Snowball fight, New York. Photo by Morris Huberland. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 5751446

Coasting in Central Park

Coasting in Central Park. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 809703

horse-drawn sleigh in snowy Central Park

Sleighing in Central Park. Photo by Brown Brothers. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 101183

kids sledding in Central Park

Sledding in Central Park. Photo by Morris Huberland. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 5762758

THEN COMES DIGGING OUT AND SNOW REMOVAL

Snow carts

Snow Carts. (1896). Photo by Alice Austen. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 79777

snow removal

Snow removal. (1896). Photo by Alice Austen. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 79778

snow removal

Snow removal. (1896). Photo by Alice Austen. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 79815

Cleaning the streets after a snow storm, New York

Cleaning the streets after a snow storm, New York. (1905). NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 809698

Snow removal on Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn

Snow removal on Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn. Photo by Max Hubacher. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 5817714

State Street in Brooklyn, NY after a big snow

State Street in Brooklyn, NY. (1960). Photo by Max Hubacher. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 5667152

INEVITABLY FOLLOWED BY...SLUSH

slushy streets of New York after a snow storm

Scene near Borough Hall in Brooklyn. (1956). Photo by Max Hubacher. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 5667062

Myrtle Avenue near Borough Hall, Brooklyn, after a snowstorm

Myrtle Avenue near Borough Hall, Brooklyn, after a snowstorm. (1945). Photo by Max Hubacher. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 5817766

child walking in slush

Child in the slush, New York. (1950-1959). Photo by Walter Silver. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 520920