Last Updated on April 28, 2025 by Matt Staff
Before it ended up being reduced to a mere shadow of its former self, New York’s original Penn Station was one of the most impressive architectural marvels of the 20th century. This collection of vintage photos can breathe newfound life into the iconic station’s golden era.
These vintage photos highlight the station’s grand arches, its soaring ceilings, and its ever-busy crowds. Take a step back in time and journey through these snapshots of a station known by people from all over the world.
1. Penn Station back in 1962
Talk about a stunning backdrop for a conversation to be had.
Hundreds of original station images live in the New York Public Library’s Penn Station photo collection.
2. Penn Station in 1950
That dog is not taking anyone’s nonsense.
3. Outside Penn Station in 1960
The hats are always such a giveaway that we’re peering back in time.
4. Holiday Crowd at Penn Station on July 2, 1954
New York crowds bustling before the impending 3-day 4th of July weekend.
5. Women waiting to purchase tickets in Penn Station in 1942
At least the ticket prices were more agreeable back then.
6. Penn Station in 1935
Time could move quite slowly when waiting for some of those trains at Penn Station.
7. A 1944 goodbye kiss in Penn Station
A kiss that both of them had to take with them and cherish for days on end.
8. Soldiers waiting outside Penn Station in 1942
They are truly posted up.
9. Penn Station back in 1924
That clock could certainly fetch a pretty penny nowadays.
10. Penn Station looking extra nice back in the early 1900s with this colorization
The Greyhounds were lined up and ready to roll back in the day at Penn Station.
11. Some construction on Penn Station back in the 1930s
Penn Station has certainly been through the ringer when it comes to having construction done.
12. New York in August, 1943
Take a look at all those impressive fits.
13. A rare Kodachrome picture of the Penn Station interior in its final years, New York, 1961
The Kodachrome shots always hit differently.
14. Commuters on the Evening Train, Penn Station, New York, 1958
The newspapers were crucial to pass the time on those occasionally slow-moving trains.
15. Penn Station, NYC, August 1942
One of the more serious snapshots we’ve seen captured at Penn Station.
16. Protesting Penn Station’s demolition, 1963
People were just a tad bit fired up over the matter.
17. Penn Station in 1958
Penn Station has seen so many phases throughout its history.
18. Even in 1966, delays at Penn Station
Yes, the delays have truly been around as long as Penn Station itself.
19. Young boy peers over upper-level balcony of the original Penn Station
The people watching at Penn Station is elite.
20. Penn Station in 1943
Those goodbyes during wartime could be devastating.
21. Northeast Blackout in the stairs of Penn Station, NYC (1965)
A power outage in a busy train station can turn reality into a nightmare very quickly.
Want more Gotham throwbacks? Wander city canyons in 20 Vintage Photos of Old New York City, ride the rails in 20 Vintage Train Photos That Capture the Spirit of the Rails, or mourn vanished masterpieces in 17 Lost Landmarks That Time Completely Erased.
