A Stunning Photographic Timeline of NYC's Iconic Brownstones

An update of a legendary book provides encyclopedic architectural knowledge of the city's row houses.

A Brief Introduction to NYC Brownstones

Amid New York City's iconic architecture lie the brownstones - quintessential examples of the city's rich and storied past. These elegant homes, with their distinctive brownstone facades, have long been coveted by New Yorkers and visitors alike. Much of the stone used in New York City's brownstones was sourced from the now-defunct Portland Brownstone Quarry in Portland, Connecticut. This quarry's proximity to the Hudson River and Long Island Sound made it easy to transport the stone to the city's building sites.

The Rise of Brownstones as Trophy Properties

The most recent ascension of brownstones as trophy properties started as far back as the early 1980s when upper-middle-class Manhattanites began gravitating toward the cheaper, more affordable brownstones in neighborhoods like Brooklyn, Queens, and Harlem. As these neighborhoods experienced a wave of gentrification, the demand for brownstones soared, leading to a sharp increase in their value. Today, brownstones remain some of the most sought-after homes in New York City. Their spacious interiors, high ceilings, and charming exteriors continue to captivate buyers, and their status as historic landmarks ensures that they will remain a beloved part of the city's architectural heritage.