A Stroll Through Upper Manhattan

New York City covers a region of hills, rivers, and valleys making the planning of subway routes complicated depending on location as routes had to ascend and descend gradually. In Northern Manhattan, the topographical elevations were much higher than low lying neighborhood counterparts. The construction and design of the Dyckman Street Station as an embankment elevated station was for this sole reason. During the time of this construction image of the incomplete station, the area was still underdeveloped in many parts. With the opening of new subway stations and greater transit options, the neighborhood grew vastly. The Dyckman Street Station opened March 12, 1906. In the background of the image, you can make out the Kingsbridge Power Plant which provided the electricity to run the trolleys of the Third Avenue Railway Company.

The Fort George/Inwood neighborhoods of upper Manhattan have a long history - from the legend of Peter Minuit's purchase of Manhattan from the Lenape Native Americans in 1626, epic American Revolutionary battles, and Prohibition era speakeasies. The growth of the area from farmlands to a modern day urban landscape was due to expanded transportation in the 20th Century. So take a stroll through the neighborhood highlighted by images from the New York Transit Museum collection.