Park Row, Manhattan 1868

W.C. Rogers & Co.’s print from 1868, titled "Park Row, Manhattan," offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment of American history. Created in the wake of the Civil War, this depiction of "Printing House Square" captures the burgeoning urban landscape, and the centrality of print media in shaping public opinion. The image presents a bustling scene of men and women, horses and carts moving along a broad boulevard framed by the buildings of powerful newspapers like The Sun, The Day-Book Tribune and The World. The presence of these news outlets, with their bold signage, reflects the growing influence of media in American life, at a time of Reconstruction, industrial expansion, and shifting social dynamics. Take note of the figures populating the foreground. Who are these people and what is their relationship to the promise of the city? The artist invites us to consider how these figures shape and are shaped by this urban environment. This print serves as a reminder of the complex intersection between urban development, media power, and the lived experiences of individuals navigating the rapidly changing social landscape of post-Civil War America.