Broadway was originally called the Wickquasgeck trail by the First people's of Manhattan, the Lenape Indians. It ran north-south 14 miles, the entire length of Manhattan, following an original ridge of land, snaking through brush, swamps, and rocks.
Found, 1614
Mentioned, 1642
Show more
It became one of the two main streets formed during the settlement of the Dutch West India Company. The Dutch explorer and entrepreneur David Pietersz. de Vries gives the first mention of it in his journal for the year 1642 ("the Wickquasgeck Road over which the Indians passed daily"). Known at the time as de Heere Straat, or “Gentlemen`s Street,” (The original Dutch name) Broadway originated at Fort Amsterdam and followed a natural ridge of land that led northwards through the fields and farms of New Amsterdam. De Heere Straat extended to the wall that protected the Dutch colonists from English encroachment along present-day Wall Street. There were only two entry gates, with one situated on de Heere Straat opposite Trinity Church.
It was renamed "Broadway" after the British took over the city, because of its unusual width. Although currently the name of the street is simply "Broadway", in a 1776 map of New York City, it is labeled as "Broadway Street".
Modified, 1658
In 1658 Broadway was widened and paved by Stuyvesant to improve the wagon road linking New Haarlem to New Amsterdam, between Vesey and Murray.
Traffic, pedestrians and American and Japanese flags displayed on buildings welcoming Japanese embassy officials during their June 1860 visit to New York City
Buildings, traffic, National Bank Note Company building on the right of Broadway. Bank of the Republic Building appears to be draped in mourning bands, likely after the death of President Abraham Lincoln, 1865
1869
Business establishments on Broadway, including the New York Hotel building and "Gurney's Gallery", Jeremiah Gurney's photographic studio (left side of image), 1869
1896
Broadway from Liberty Street, 1896
1860
Broadway with the Trinity spire in the background, between 1860 and 1870
1890
Broadway & Trinity Church, 1890
1909
Beggar Peddler - Woman holding a small child and a box of Wrigley's Spearmint gum, in front of a building on Broadway in New York City; pedestrians on sidewalk in background, 1909
1910
New York City Aqueduct excavation site on Broadway, 1910-1915
1910
New York City Aqueduct excavation site on Broadway, 1910-1915
1910
New York City Aqueduct excavation site on Broadway, 1910-1915
1952
Corner of Broadway Street with many people walking about, October 1952
1952
Sign for Broadway Central Hotel and advertisement for Gotham Equipment Corp, December 1952_LOC
1953
Sign for Commercial State Bank and "Hot Knishes" food cart at intersection of Spring Street and Broadway. Looking South on Broadway, November 1953
current Drawings and documents
2 Documents,Show less
1866
Broadway fashions. For spring and summer 1866, published by E. Butterick, 192 Broadway, NY
1870
Policeman escorting two women across Broadway, 1870
1658 - Modified
2 Results,Show less
1658 - Modified - Drawings and documents
2 Documents,Show less
1776
Ratzer map of New York City, 1776
Castello Plan of New Amsterdam in 1660, redrawn in 1916