#blizzardof1888

[nyc-urbanism]

In 1888 the worst winter storm in the city’s history hit New York City, dumping 22 inches of snow on the Five Boroughs. Over 400 people died and many buildings burnt down from fires. Most notably, the East River froze and New Yorkers were able to walk across the frozen river between Brooklyn and Manhattan. #eastriver #nychistory #brooklyn #dumbo #downtown #brooklynbridge #fultonferry #1888 #blizzardof1888 #nytimes #manhattanhistory #nyhistory #brooklynhistory #brooklynbridgepark #dumbo #southstreetseaport #brooklynheights (at East River) https://www.instagram.com/p/CY9ZB4LlRvK/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nytransitmuseum]

“Never has there been such a day as yesterday in the history of the elevated railroads. It was not supposed that a snow storm could seriously affect travel on the trestles, but before 10 o’clock all attempt at regularity in dispatching and running trains was abandoned, and not one-tenth of the number of trains usually in progress on the roads were in motion.” – The New York Sun, March 13, 1888

Think today's #NorEaster is bad? 130 years ago this month, the #Blizzardof1888, also known as the “Great White Hurricane,” devastated #NewYorkCity and much of the #EastCoast. #NewYork streets were consumed by the snowdrifts carried in by extreme winds, leaving many stranded in carriages and elevated subway lines. For days, telegraph infrastructure and rail transportation were disabled.

The historic #blizzard depicted below is credited as one of the primary reasons that sparked plans to move mass transit in NYC underground. Construction of the first underground subway #NYC broke ground in 1900, just twelve years after the Blizzard of 1888.