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Northeast blackout 2003: Photos of NYC

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  • The sun sets over Manhattan during the first hours of a widespread blackout through the Northeast on Aug. 14, 2003.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Daniel Goodrich
  • New Yorkers cross the Brooklyn Bridge after a massive blackout throughout the Northeast stalled trains and forced commuters onto the streets.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Mayita Mendez
  • A crowd gathers in Times Square on Aug. 15, 2003, during the Northeast blackout that began the day before.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Robert Mecea
  • MTA employees stand outside a subway station on Church Street in lower Manhattan waiting for service to be restored on Aug. 15, 2003, after a blackout affected much of the Northeast the day before.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Mayita Mendez
  • A view of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge after a massive blackout throughout the Northeast.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Mayita Mendez
  • New Yorkers cross the Brooklyn Bridge during the Northeast blackout.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Mayita Mendez
  • A view of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge during the Northeast blackout.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Mayita Mendez

It was a dark time for New Yorkers on Aug. 14, 2003 – literally.

Nearly 16 years ago, a cascade of power failures that started in Ohio reached the five boroughs in a matter of minutes.

The Northeast blackout, the largest of its kind in American history, forced New Yorkers to endure the steamy summer weather sans air conditioning for up to 29 hours. Subway riders were evacuated from stalled trains across the city and were left with no choice but to walk.

Scroll down for photos from around the city on the day that everything went dark.

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