This is a view looking north on Fifth Avenue. Virtually everything in this photo has been changed since 1911, with the exception of St. Patrick's Cathedral, the twin spires of which appear in the distant haze on the right. There is today, however, a big pedestal clock on the same (west) side of Fifth Avenue, one block north of its location in the old photo. You can see it on Google Maps, and all of the filigree and other details on the clock appear to be the same as the one in the photo. Perhaps it was moved sometime after 1911? One final note: if this photo had been taken just 5-7 years earlier, the horses and buggies would still have greatly outnumbered the automobiles, even in midtown Manhattan. But by 1911, the tide had clearly turned.

would this photo be taken?

[I think a couple of them are heading down the street on the right. -tterrace]

So early on the US had right-hand drive cars? Very interesting, would love to know the history surrounding the change.

[A situation often noted in Shorpy photos; in the words of Dave, "Cars of the era were a mix of right- and left-hand-drive. By 1920, most auto makers had settled on left-hand drive." -tterrace]