Our history books would have us believe that New York City of this time, was a seething cauldron of oppressed masses from Eastern and Southern Europe.

Yet these photos show another, more gentile atmosphere of this urban giant.

I wonder if school teachers are aware of, and make use of this website?

[This being the Upper West Side, the atmosphere was probably only medium-Gentile. - Dave]

If anyone has access to a copy of the book "722 Miles: The Building of the Subways and How They Transformed New York." I think there is a picture of this curve when it was built out in farmers' fields. The book is very good at explaining how the subways, elevated railways, and street cars made possible the development of a much larger city.

A more-recent (1896) view:

After consulting the vast riches of the Shorpy archive, I have determined that this view was taken from the grounds of St. John the Divine, looking southeast across Morningside Park toward Cathedral Parkway (110th Street) and the north end of Central Park. The apartment buildings along Manhattan Avenue (at the left) are still there, except for the one closest to the L tracks. Of the three buildings on the other side of the tracks (south side of 110th St.), only the middle one has been replaced. Thanks, Dave, this has been loads of fun!

That's Central Park in the background there and the structure just left of center peeking up through the trees is the Block House.