Queens, New York

This remarkable 1908 photograph captures the Long Island Motor Parkway (also known as the Vanderbilt Parkway) with the Manhattan skyline in the distance. Built in 1908, the parkway is celebrated as the first road in the United States designed exclusively for automobiles. Stretching from Queens to Ronkonkoma, it featured innovative overpasses and bridges, making it a pioneer in modern roadway design.

Initially a private toll road costing $2 to use, it was largely frequented by wealthy car enthusiasts eager to race their vehicles. The parkway was eventually closed in 1938 and absorbed by the state, though parts of it remain today, repurposed as a scenic bike path in Queens. A fascinating glimpse into the dawn of the automobile age.