Manhattan: 5th Avenue - 40th Street

Old reservoir, Fifth Avenue, west side, 40th to 42nd Streets, being drained for demolition.
The view is along the Fifth Avenue wall, with the Hotel Bristol and 42nd Street buildings in the background.
Some idea of the tremendous thickness of the walls may be gained by remembering that the outer walls also slope outward.
The New York Public Library was constructed on this site.
1901-1902.