Cities are constantly going through changes driven by social and technological advancements. Chances are, the place that you grew up in is entirely different now than it was before. This is just a simple consequence of human progress. However, how certain locations looked in the past can quickly fade from our memory, losing their history along with it. Luckily, photography lets us preserve such moments, assuming that there’s a person dedicated enough to capture the nooks and crannies of the city.
That’s exactly what Grégoire Alessandrini did, immortalizing New York of the 1990s in his vintage photo archive. It’s full of street scenes, landmarks, and iconic locations that have been majorly transformed since. Scroll down to set out on a nostalgic walk through New York City, and don’t forget to share any memories you have of NYC in the 90s. We are more than excited to hear them!
While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with the photographer Grégoire Alessandrini himself and city photographer Natallia, who currently resides in Vilnius, Lithuania.
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After The Snow Storm - 6th Avenue 1996
First week of January 1996. About 3 feet of snow but crazy high snow drifts. The whole tri-state area was shut down for days. (New Jersey, USA)
Bryant Park 1993
Sidewalks Of NYC, St. Marks Place 1993
“I came to NYC in 1990 from Paris as a film student, and I instantly fell in love with Manhattan. I felt like I was stepping on a giant film set. It was everything that I had imagined but bigger, louder, crazier, and sometimes scarier,” tells photographer Grégoire Alessandrini about starting his New York in the 1990s archive.
“As a film student at City College in Harlem, I quickly started discovering all kinds of neighborhoods to shoot student films, but buying a photo camera suddenly gave me an incredible feeling of freedom. I was able to explore the city by myself, “recording” everything that seemed to give New York City its incredible edge. Old buildings, graffiti, signs, street scenes, and parties,” he said to Bored Panda.
At the time, he also started working as a journalist for a French magazine, which further allowed him to capture the era of this city.
Flea Market 6th Avenue 1997
East Village 1995
Soho (Greene Street) 1992
Alessandrini tells us that New York was very different back then, and he’s glad to see how it changed in a fairly short amount of time. “The city was close to bankruptcy, mugging was a common occurrence, the crack epidemic was at its peak, and homeless people were living in the subway and the parks. Yet, you felt an extraordinary energy and the possibility to experience anything you wanted,” he says.
Chelsea Hotel 1997
"I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel. That's all. I don't even think of you that often."
“Newsstand”1994
Knitting Factory On Houston Street - 1991
Rent in the East Village, the Lower East Side, or Chelsea areas was still relatively affordable, and nightlife was thriving. “It also felt like the end of a period with an amazing heritage still visible here and there, from Keith Haring murals to landmark rock venues like the Continental or the iconic CBGB’s. Believe it or not, my neighbors in Alphabet City in 1992 were Allen Ginsberg and Richard Hell,” shares Alessandrini.
Snow Days In The East Village - Winter 1996
Village Cigars 1990s
Sidewalks Of NYC. Diamond District, 1991
I can smell the somewhat burned pretzels as I burrow deeper into my leather jacket
The city started getting cleaned up with the election of mayor Rudy Giuliani in the mid-90s, he says. “Especially the 42nd Street area, which went from a very seedy location made famous by films like Taxi Driver or Midnight Cowboy to “a family entertainment district." I guess Mayor Bloomberg then finished the job to make New York safe and cleaner, but it seems that so much was lost in the process.”
The Bowery 1995
The Fat Black Cat West Village 1995
The two letters after the word ‘black’ look like PO. Are we sure it’s ’cat ’?
Unique On Broadway 1993
Having completed such a project, he realized just what a transformation the city has gone through. “Entire blocks were destroyed, the architecture was changing as well as the sociology of entire neighborhoods. The city that I had loved, experienced, and photographed seemed to be fading away at an amazing pace.
This is what made me want to share my pictures, as I believe they tell the story of a city that is now almost gone. I am very happy to see that so many New Yorkers and people from all around the world enjoy these images as they remind them of the New York they knew and often miss dearly.”
Meat Packing District Early 1990’s
5th Avenue 1991
Itzkowitz Ludlow Street 1994
Alessandrini believes that creating photo archives of cities like New York and beyond in a specific period becomes a priceless testimony. “The most trivial things that you photograph can sometimes have significance that you would have never imagined at the time. It’s a precious gift for those who share this experience with you but also for those who want to understand how a city used to be and how it became what it is today.”
NYC Diners Early 1990s
One of the great greasy spoons of NYC - closed in 2002: https://evgrieve.com/2009/02/remembering-jones-diner.html
Russian And Turkish Baths East Village 1997
Chelsea 1995
City photographer Natallia also agrees, saying, “It preserves the history of the city in the moment. I believe that over time, such digital photo archives will have a unique historical memory, allowing future generations of residents to understand the city and its atmosphere more deeply.”
Great Jones Alley (And Cortlandt Alley) Mid-90’s
Times Square 1997
Columbus Circle 1991
She started sharing photos of cities out of her love for urban architecture and beautiful old cities. Since she currently lives in Vilnius (Bored Panda’s home city!) she decided to share her surroundings with others, given that she already had so many photos.
Sidewalks Of NYC. Upper East Side
Peep Land And Show World (Mid-90s)
Chelsea (22nd And 7th Ave. ) 1997
She would describe Vilnius, which is very different from NYC, as friendly. “I like the proportion of the city to the person (you don’t have to spend a lot of time on public transport to get to work or just take a walk in the center; there are no super tall residential buildings or extremely dense urban developments where you feel uncomfortable) and its safety.
It’s always interesting to walk through the labyrinths of old streets, discovering something new each time: whether it’s a cozy courtyard, an unusual sculpture, or a beautiful view of the orange rooftops. Vilnius hasn’t frozen in time; it is constantly changing, becoming more comfortable and modern, but at the same time, it retains the spirit of the majestic Old Town. And that’s really great,” she fondly shared.
Times Square 1994
Im from The Bronx. Im extremely familiar with Times Square. This was the time of hookers everywhere, (sexy, except the tran-ies, but back then, they were called trans-vestites) Robbers, (scary) Peep shows, (was too young to endeavor lol) Arcades (So much fun). This was when everything was organic, and it didn't feel so modern, and commercialized, as it is today. When, you actually had fun during New Year's Eve, during the ball drop, not this modern version, where everyone is in NYPD cages like cattle. Smh It was just so much different.
6th Avenue Flea Market Mid-90’s
Meat Packing District 1994
Photographs captured in a film camera have such a different warmth and spirit about them as opposed to digital camera / smartphones.
I'd love to see side by side pics of what's there now for some of them.
I visited NYC in feb 1993, I was 20, these pictures look so vintage, I feel ancient
Why are these rare? I mean, they are neat pix, but it was 1990s, not 1890s.
I only went through the first dozen or so, but honestly other than some people's clothing and that photo of a newsstand, these look to me pretty much like NYC now.
I have wanted to go to NYC for as long as I can remember. I know I'll never get there (and honestly I have no desire to visit the USA with its current political climate) so I love seeing photos and articles like this.
Could people please remember that NYC is not only Manhattan? There's 4 other boroughs, each w/their own "spirit", attractions & millions of people. Source: Lived in NYC from the '80s to the '00s. It looked a lot better than these pics show, even the same spots.
This is 100% the world of the musical RENT. I should know—I was there in the village, too!
I never visited this city, but still like the atmosphere that the pictures bring
This is the NYC I knew growing up. Really appreciate this post- thank you!
Photographs captured in a film camera have such a different warmth and spirit about them as opposed to digital camera / smartphones.
I'd love to see side by side pics of what's there now for some of them.
I visited NYC in feb 1993, I was 20, these pictures look so vintage, I feel ancient
Why are these rare? I mean, they are neat pix, but it was 1990s, not 1890s.
I only went through the first dozen or so, but honestly other than some people's clothing and that photo of a newsstand, these look to me pretty much like NYC now.
I have wanted to go to NYC for as long as I can remember. I know I'll never get there (and honestly I have no desire to visit the USA with its current political climate) so I love seeing photos and articles like this.
Could people please remember that NYC is not only Manhattan? There's 4 other boroughs, each w/their own "spirit", attractions & millions of people. Source: Lived in NYC from the '80s to the '00s. It looked a lot better than these pics show, even the same spots.
This is 100% the world of the musical RENT. I should know—I was there in the village, too!
I never visited this city, but still like the atmosphere that the pictures bring
This is the NYC I knew growing up. Really appreciate this post- thank you!