New York in the Jazz Age

Overview

New York in the 1920s was a city transformed by immigration, industrialization, and cultural revolution. The Jazz Age brought new music, new fashion, new attitudes, and a sense that the modern world had arrived. Harlem became a cultural capital, and the city's streets pulsed with unprecedented energy.

Historical Context

The 1920s saw the Harlem Renaissance, Prohibition, the Great Migration of African Americans from the South, and the explosive growth of jazz music. New York became the cultural and financial capital of the world.

What to Notice

• Jazz club exteriors with distinctive signage and atmosphere.
• Period automobiles from the 1920s.
• The fashion revolution -- shorter hemlines, flapper style, zoot suits.
• The early electric signage of Times Square era.