Tear down

Penn Station demolition.

High quality images of destruction.

The years between 1880 and 1920 changed American cities completely: From elevators to air conditioning to electricity, the monumental buildings born during this period seemed like living things, humming with life. But as quickly as they rose, many of them were torn down—victims of the same progress that pushed them up.

Some have never been published or widely-seen outside the archives before.

The years between 1880 and 1920 changed American cities completely: From elevators to air conditioning to electricity, the monumental buildings born during this period seemed like living things, humming with life. But as quickly as they rose, many of them were torn down—victims of the same progress that pushed them up.

Some have never been published or widely-seen outside the archives before.

The years between 1880 and 1920 changed American cities completely: From elevators to air conditioning to electricity, the monumental buildings born during this period seemed like living things, humming with life. But as quickly as they rose, many of them were torn down—victims of the same progress that pushed them up.

During the demolition, a view into Penn Station’s main waiting room, which was still in use as the building was torn down. July 6, 1965. Credit Arthur Brower/The New York Times

File name: 08_06_016375 Title: U.S. Post Office building being torn down Creator/Contributor: Jones, Leslie, 1886-1967 (photographer) Date created: 1929-12 Physical description: 1 negative : glass, black & white ; 4 x 5 in. Genre: Glass negatives Subjects: Post offices; Demolition; Debris Notes: Title and date from information provided by Leslie Jones or the Boston Public Library on the negative or negative sleeve. Collection: Leslie Jones Collection Location: Boston Public Library, Print…

The years between 1880 and 1920 changed American cities completely: From elevators to air conditioning to electricity, the monumental buildings born during this period seemed like living things, humming with life. But as quickly as they rose, many of them were torn down—victims of the same progress that pushed them up.

Some have never been published or widely-seen outside the archives before.

The years between 1880 and 1920 changed American cities completely: From elevators to air conditioning to electricity, the monumental buildings born during this period seemed like living things, humming with life. But as quickly as they rose, many of them were torn down—victims of the same progress that pushed them up.

Some have never been published or widely-seen outside the archives before.

Some have never been published or widely-seen outside the archives before.

The years between 1880 and 1920 changed American cities completely: From elevators to air conditioning to electricity, the monumental buildings born during this period seemed like living things, humming with life. But as quickly as they rose, many of them were torn down—victims of the same progress that pushed them up.