The hills of Harlem and the waterways used to be the middle class country escape for most of the 19th century for Manhattanites and the above print shows what a weekend on the waterway looked like. Horse carriages raced down the nearby speedway by the High Bridge while boathouses lined the verdant banks of the Harlem River on the east side and this must have been a popular way to cool off in the warmer seasons. This print from 1879 shows a very busy section somewhere off the coast of upper Manhattan with private sailboats, boat tours and steamships of various sizes. Click on image to enlarge.
Magnificent photo! Sailing still is a great escape. There's nothing more exciting then sailing on the East River to the Statue of Liberty.
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