A new series by The New York Times explores New York City’s lost landscapes, revealing how urban development transformed natural and agricultural terrain into the concrete skyline familiar today. Through historical maps, photographs, and archival research, the project traces the disappearance of wetlands, forests, and farmland that once defined the city’s geography. Readers gain a visual and environmental perspective on how the metropolis reshaped its surroundings over time. The series offers a striking contrast between past and present, highlighting the ecological and cultural shifts underlying NYC’s growth.
The Ecologist Surveying What NYC Looked Like Before the Concrete The New York Times
