It’s easy to understand why these ferry riders were so captivated by the Twin Towers, which were almost completely built at the edge of Lower Manhattan when they took this trip crossing New York Harbor. (No antenna yet on the roof of the North Tower; that would come in 1978.)
This photo, by Morris Huberland and part of the Morris Huberland Collection in the NYPL Digital Collection, must have been taken in the early 1970s.
It’s quiet and contemplative, reflecting the tone many New Yorkers will take on this week as the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaches.
Tags: building the World Trade Center, Twin Towers Photos 1970s, Twin Towers Under Construction Photos, World Trade Center in the 1970s, World Trade Center Photos 1970s
Ephemeral New York 
September 6, 2021 at 7:45 am |
I recall when I was a kid and riding my bike; I stopped and looked at the huge hole they were excavating which would eventually become the WTCenter. My how time goes by…
September 6, 2021 at 11:50 am |
Horrible photo of the time
September 6, 2021 at 4:56 pm |
Mykola, I always enjoy your additions. Thanks for sharing.
September 6, 2021 at 8:54 am |
RIP: Twin Towers, those lost that day, and what was left of actual American spirit. I wonder if the destruction of the WTC was less a signal event and more of a harbinger of this very bad century so far.
September 6, 2021 at 3:00 pm |
Sadly I have to agree, but we’re still in the early part of the century, so there’s hope.
September 6, 2021 at 10:22 am |
RIP. It will never stop hurting. Thank you for your thoughtful photo and message.
September 6, 2021 at 2:59 pm |
Thank you for your thoughtful comments during this very weighty week.
September 7, 2021 at 8:56 am |
I still can’t watch video from 9/11. I just can’t it makes my heart ache.
September 7, 2021 at 6:48 pm |
If I had a dime for every time I saw that gorgeous view of the WTC from the Staten Island Ferry…well, I’d have quite the jar of dimes. Since the south tower is yet to be complete, and judging by the clothes/hairstyles of the ferry riders, I’d say the pic is from 1973-74.
September 9, 2021 at 12:48 am |
That’s probably about right, 1973-1974. It’s still hard to comprehend the horror of that awful day 27 or so years after the photo was taken.
May 1, 2022 at 7:37 am |
I have a photo of my deceased wife Debra on the Staten Island Ferry in the 70’s with the Twin Towers in the background. Amazing!
John Rogers