Fire Escape Collection (#3)

NEW YORK: FRONT STREET. The corner of Front Street and Peck Slip, New York. Photograph by Walter Smalling Jr. 1981

NEW YORK: WATER STREET. View of the East side of Water Street, New York. Photograph by Walter Smalling Jr. 1981

LOWER MANHATTAN, c1970. Rooftops in Lower Manhattan. Photograph by Paul Rudolph, c1970

Fire Escape Ladder
Vintage engraving of a Fire Escape Ladder

Old buildings and fire escapes in the Cast Iron District of SoHo, Manhattan, New York City, United States of America, North America

NEW YORK: MOTT STREET, 1942. A flag raising ceremony on Mott Street in New York City, in honor of men from the neighborhood in the United States Army. Photograph by Marjory Collins, 1942

NEW YORK: MOTT STREET, 1942. Italian-American women on a fire escape watching a parade and flag raising ceremony on Mott Street in New York City

EVANS: NEW YORK CITY, 1938. Building facades on 61st Street somewhere between 1st and 3rd Avenue in New York, New York. Photograph by Walker Evans, 1938

NEW YORK: CHINATOWN, c1912. Mott Street in Chinatown, New York City. Photograph, c1912

CHICAGO: GRANT PARK, c1910. A view of Grant Park and nearby buildings along South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, looking south from the steps of the Art Institute of Chicago

TENEMENT BUILDING, 1912. A tenement building in need of repair with eight families doing home-work in poor conditions at 233 East 107th Street in New York City

NEW YORK: LOWER EAST SIDE. Street vendors on Hester Street at the corner of Norfolk Street on Manhattan Lower East Side, c1885

NEW YORK: CHINATOWN, c1900. Mott Street in Chinatown, lower Manhattan, c1900

HINE: NEW YORK CITY, 1912. Storefront at 233 East 107th street, New York City. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1912

FIRE ESCAPE, 1884. A woman escaping from a burning building using a portable friction fire escape. American invention, 1884. Engraving, English, 1885

FIRE ESCAPE, 1791. A movable balcony fire escape in England, 1791. Engraving, English, 1885

FIRE ESCAPE, 1840. A firefighter using lazy tongs to rescue a victim in a burning building, 1840. Engraving, English, 1840

FIRE ESCAPE, 1767. A hoist system of escaping a building during a fire, 1767. Engraving, English, 1885

FIRE ESCAPE, 1883. Wood engraving, American, 1883

NEW YORK: TENEMENT, c1910. A public health inspector searching for mosquito breeding areas in tenement buildings, in an effort to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Photograph, c1910

LOWER EAST SIDE, c1909. An outdoor market on Orchard Street and Rivington Street, New York City, c1909

Usa, New York City: Lower East Side
USA, New York City, Lower East Side

USA, Alabama, Mobile. Dauphin Street, fire escape
Fire escape on brick apartment building at Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama, USA

Fire escape patent, 1882 C024 / 3623
Fire escape patent, 1882. Artwork of a fire escape friction device invented by Oscar F. Davis. The device allowed a person to control the speed of descent down a rope

Manhattan Bridge detail, New York, United States of America, North America

Fire safety. Fire extinguisher, fire alarm and fire exit signs on a wall

The Bellevue Hospital Ambulance in New York City. Photograph, 1895
NEW YORK: AMBULANCE, 1895. The Bellevue Hospital Ambulance in New York City. Photograph, 1895

USA, Georgia, Savannah. Fire Escape on Savannah College of Arts. Polaroid SX70 Manipulation

FILM: CITIZEN KANE, 1941. Joseph Cotten stumping for Kane (Orson Welles) in a scene from the 1941 motion picture Citizen Kane

FIRE ESCAPE LADDER, 1849. A new fire escape ladder on display in London. Wood engraving, English, 1849

NEW YORK: HEAT WAVE, 1883. Tenement dwellers trying to get some sleep outside on a sweltering summer night. Line engraving after W.A. Rogers, 1883

NEW YORK: WASH DAY, 1889. Doing laundry, on Monday, in the tenements of the Lower East Side in New York. Wood engraving, American, 1889

Fire escape staircase

NEW YORK: TENEMENTS, 1912. A row of tenements on Elizabeth Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York. Photograph, by Lewis Wickes Hine, March 1912

ITALY: NAPLES, c1904. An impovished street in Naples, Italy. Stereograph, c1904

PUSHCART MARKET, 1939. A pushcart market on Belmont Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. Photograph, 1939

NEW YORK : CHINATOWN, 1909. Doyers Street in New Yorks Chinatown in lower Manhattan. Stereograph, 1909

Tenement building, fire escape, Soho, Manhattan, New York City, United States of America, North America

Fire escapes, Soho, Manhattan, New York, United States of America, North America

Fire escapes, Chinatown, Manhattan, New York, United States of America, North America

Pink facade and stairs in Soho, New York, New York State, USA, North America

Haymarket District, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America, North America

Street with tenements and church, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, United States of America, North America

Little Italy in Lower Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America

Apartments in Alphabet City, Downtown Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America

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"Unlocking the Tower of Power: The Evolution of Fire Escapes in New York City" Step back in time to 1879, when the fire-escape patent C024/3605 revolutionized building safety. Fast forward to present-day Manhattan, where the Meatpacking District proudly displays its historic buildings adorned with intricate fire escapes. These iron ladders intertwine like a lifeline, preserving both architectural beauty and human lives. As autumn paints New York City with vibrant hues, these fire escapes stand as silent witnesses to countless stories unfolding beneath them, and are more than just emergency exits; they embody resilience and hope amidst towering skyscrapers. In this concrete jungle, where dreams are born and realized, each fire escape tells a unique tale. From one perspective, they symbolize the meaning of life itself – an escape route from danger or simply a breath of fresh air on a summer evening. Venturing through the streets of Manhattan unveils a breathtaking sight – rows upon rows of these iconic structures stretching towards the sky. Their rhythmic patterns create an urban symphony that resonates with those who call this city home. Captured through lenses capturing their essence at different angles - Fire Escapes 02, 03, 04 & 05 - these images showcase their timeless allure against contrasting backgrounds. Whether framed against the majestic Manhattan Bridge or blending seamlessly into bustling street scenes, they remain steadfast guardians throughout changing times. The legacy of fire escapes is deeply intertwined with New York's history and identity. They serve as reminders that even within chaos lies order; within vulnerability lies strength. So next time you stroll along these streets lined with architectural marvels and hidden stories waiting to be discovered, take a moment to appreciate these humble yet powerful symbols – for they hold not only physical significance but also represent our collective spirit in overcoming adversity.