Backgrounds of Brooklyn: Historical Flair for Your Video Calls!

By Bo Méndez

Posted on May 7, 2020

Video chats and conference calls have become a routine element of our everyday experiences of work, school, and connecting with family or friends. Add a bit of Brooklyn to your next video call by using this selection of images from our collection as virtual backgrounds!

[Panorama of Brooklyn and Manhattan waterfronts]

[Panorama of Brooklyn and Manhattan waterfronts], circa 1910, photographic prints, v1976.2.268; Edward B. Watson photographs and prints collection, Brooklyn Historical Society.

Say “hi” from a bird’s eye view of the East River, check in from the rides at Luna Park, or enjoy a virtual hangout on the Coney Island beach, all without leaving your home.

Find your favorite images from this collection, download them (Windows/PC users: right-click, then “Save As”; Mac users: control + click, then “Save image as”), then follow your video call platform’s instructions to set them as a virtual background.

Brooklyn Bridge, circa 1901

Brooklyn Bridge, circa 1901, v1972.1.1278; Early Brooklyn and Long Island photograph collection, ARC 201, Brooklyn Historical Society.
Dreamland, Coney Island, circa 1910

Dreamland, Coney Island, circa 1910, v1972.1.1309; Early Brooklyn and Long Island photograph collection, ARC 201, Brooklyn Historical Society.
Brooklyn Terminal, Brooklyn Bridge, circa 1900

Brooklyn Terminal, Brooklyn Bridge, circa 1900, v1973.4.96; Postcard collection, v1973.4, Brooklyn Historical Society.
Steeplechase Swimming Pool, Coney Island, 1955

Steeplechase Swimming Pool, Coney Island, 1955, v1973.4.753; Postcard collection, v1973.4, Brooklyn Historical Society.
Thrills on the Cyclone, circa 1955

Thrills on the Cyclone, circa 1955, v1973.4.1456.11; Postcard collection, v1973.4, Brooklyn Historical Society.
Fulton Ferry and Brooklyn Waterfront, circa 1905

Fulton Ferry and Brooklyn Waterfront, circa 1905, v1973.5.299; Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection, ARC 202, Brooklyn Historical Society.
Fulton Ferry and Brooklyn Waterfront, July 1902

Fulton Ferry and Brooklyn Waterfront, July 1902, v1973.6.533; Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection, ARC 202, Brooklyn Historical Society.
Borough Hall and Montague Street, 1880

Borough Hall and Montague Street, 1880, v1974.1.1299; Eugene L. Armbruster photographs and scrapbooks, v1974.1, Brooklyn Historical Society.
[Men with stage sleigh], March 1888

Adrian Vanderveer Martense, [Men with stage sleigh], March 1888, lantern slides, v1974.7.34; Adrian Vanderveer Martense collection, ARC.191, Brooklyn Historical Society.
[Traffic at Grand Army Plaza], circa 1880

Adrian Vanderveer Martense, [Traffic at Grand Army Plaza], circa 1880, lantern slides, v1974.7.60; Adrian Vanderveer Martense collection, ARC.191, Brooklyn Historical Society.

[Cleft Ridge Span, Prospect Park], circa 1880

Adrian Vanderveer Martense, [Cleft Ridge Span, Prospect Park], circa 1880, lantern slides, v1974.7.116; Adrian Vanderveer Martense collection, ARC.191, Brooklyn Historical Society.
[Fulton Fish Market], circa 1880

Adrian Vanderveer Martense, [Fulton Fish Market], circa 1880, lantern slides, v1974.7.122; Adrian Vanderveer Martense collection, ARC.191, Brooklyn Historical Society.
[Williamsburg Plaza], 1907

Eugene L. Armbruster, [Williamsburg Plaza], 1907, scrapbooks, v1974.022.1.106; Eugene L. Armbruster photographs and scrapbooks, ARC.308, Brooklyn Historical Society
Steeplechase Park, 1903

Eugene L. Armbruster, Steeplechase Park, 1903, scrapbooks, V1974.022.4.046; Eugene L. Armbruster photographs and scrapbooks, ARC.308, Brooklyn Historical Society
Luna Park, The Electric City by the Sea, 1903

Eugene L. Armbruster, Luna Park, The Electric City by the Sea, 1903, scrapbooks, V1974.022.6.054; Eugene L. Armbruster photographs and scrapbooks, ARC.308, Brooklyn Historical Society
Luna Park, 1903

Eugene L. Armbruster, Luna Park, 1903, scrapbooks, V1974.022.6.071; Eugene L. Armbruster photographs and scrapbooks, ARC.308, Brooklyn Historical Society
[Panorama of Brooklyn and Manhattan waterfronts]

[Panorama of Brooklyn and Manhattan waterfronts], circa 1910, photographic prints, v1976.2.268; Edward B. Watson photographs and prints collection, Brooklyn Historical Society.
Defender’s Arch, Prospect Park, Brooklyn N.Y., 1905

Defender’s Arch, Prospect Park, Brooklyn N.Y., 1905, photographic postcards, v1988.54.29; Postcard collection, Brooklyn Historical Society.
[Empire Stores.], circa 1880

Joseph Hall, [Empire Stores.], circa 1880, photographic prints/photographic albums, v1991.90.9.1; George J. Bischof papers and photographs, ARC.008, Brooklyn Historical Society.

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