Stunning Vintage Photos of the Swimming Pools of New York City in the 1950s and 1960s

The Cabot Street Bath in Boston was the first swimming pool in the U.S. When it opened in 1868, most of the houses in the neighborhood had no bathtubs. Several leaps in science and technology in the 20th century made swimming pools an even more popular option. The pool was supplied with clean water thanks to chlorination and filtration systems. Before these developments, the only way to clean a pool was to remove all the water and replace it.

The U.S. pool business developed with the invention of gunite, a material that allowed faster installation, more flexible designs, and lower costs than previous methods. In the postwar period, middle-classes became cheaper to buy, and there were also more affordable alternatives to gunite. Pool proliferation was accelerated even more by these factors. Above ground pool kits first appeared on the market in 1947, creating a completely new pool experience. Within a few years, single-unit pools would be sold and installed in a single day.

Below are some stunning vintage photos from William Bird that show the Swimming pools of New York City in the 1950s and 1960s.

#1 Hotel Nemerson, South Fallsburg, New York

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#2 Oehler’s Mountain Lodge, Kingston, New York

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#3 Alexandria Motel, Alexandria Bay, New York

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#4 Bel-air pool, Glen Spray, New York

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#5 Bird’s Nest Motel, Skaneateles, New York

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#6 Broadlea Pool at Academy of Our Lady, Goshen, New York

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#7 Captain Thomson’s Motor Lodge, Alexandria Bay, New York

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#8 Charles and Lillian Brown’s Hotel, Loch Sheldrake, New York

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#9 Children’s wading pool and main swimming pool at John Boyd Thacher State Park in the Helderberg Mountains, 15 miles southwest of Albany, New York

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#10 Columbia Resort Hotel, Hurleyville, New York

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#11 Concord Hotel indoor pool, Kiamesha Lake, New York

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#12 Downtowner Motor Inn swimming pool, Rochester, New York

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#13 Fun in the sun at the beautiful new pool at John Boyd Thatcher State Park, Altamont, New York

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#14 Grossinger’s Olympic Pool, New York

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#15 Hill’s Resort, Callicoon Center, New York

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#16 Hotel Brickman pool, South Fallsburg, New York

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#17 Hotel Marcy, Lake Placid, New York

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#18 Huck Finn Motel, Horseheads, New York

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#19 John T Buckley swimming pool, Utica, New York

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#20 Kutsher’s Country Club, Monticello, New York

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#21 L & M Motel, Schenectady, New York

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#22 Laurels Hotel and Country Club pool, Monticello, New York

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#23 Laurels Hotel and Country Club, Monticello, New York

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#24 Lido Motel, Monticello, New York

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#25 Man-Del-A Motel, Lake George, New York

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#26 Morley’s Motel, Ogdensburg, New York

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#27 O’Connell’s Fern Cliff House, East Durham, New York

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#28 Pines Hotel, South Fallsburg, New York

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#29 Pines Resort Hotel, South Fallsburg, New York

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#30 Po’Keepsie Motor Hotel, Poughkeepsie, New York

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#31 Raleigh pool, So Fallsburg, New York

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#32 Swimming in the municipal pool, Prospect Park, Troy, New York

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#33 Tamarack Lodge, Greenfield Park, New York

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#34 Waikiki Indoor Pool, Nevele Country Club, Ellenville, New York

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#35 Windsor Hotel indoor pool, So Fallsburg, New York

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