World Trade Center Area 1966-68
The WTC site as it appeared in the mid 1960s. Known as "Radio Row" the low rise buildings dating to the 1850s were, by 1960, a disheveled lot of derelict and low rent repair and radio shops. The two higher buildings at 30 and 50 Church St. were the Hudson Terminal Buildings that stood above the PATH/subway tracks. And they stood squarely in the sights of Robert Moses and the Port Authority.
West Street, West Side Highway and abandoned 19th century warehouses at World Trade Center site before construction started on the WTC. 1966. New York

West Street, West Side Highway and abandoned 19th century warehouses at World Trade Center site before construction started on the WTC. 1966. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
Washington St and Chambers St toward Hudson and West Side Highway. Not far from the future World Trade Center. 1967. New York

Abandoned 19th century buildings at Washington St and Chambers St toward Hudson and West Side Highway. Not far from the future World Trade Center. 1967. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
West St. at Jay and Caroline vacated prior to demolition 1967

West Street, West Side Highway, at end of Jay St by Caroline St. 1967. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
West St. between Duane and Reade 1967

West Street between Duane and Reade Sts. Right by the new World Trade Center. 1967. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
West Street between Jay St and Duane Street. Right by the new World Trade Center. New York. 1967

West Street between Jay St and Duane Street. Right by the new World Trade Center. New York. 1967 by wavz13, on Flickr
West St. and Warren 1967

West Street and Warren St. 1967. New York. Just a few blocks north of the new World Trade Center. by wavz13, on Flickr
West St. and Chambers 1967

West Street and Chambers St. 1967. Just a few blocks from the new World Trade Center. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
Washington Market, demolished in 1967 to make way for the WTC.
The Bowery Boys http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com/2010/08/mad-men-notes-swanky-steaks-and.html
The Site
1966-67 The site looking north towards the NY Telephone Building.

World Trade Center site in 1966. New York Telephone building and the West Side Highway surround it. by wavz13, on Flickr
Site clearance nearly finished and excavation begins c.1966

World Trade Center site before construction started. 1967. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
Excavation complete and construction underway 1967-68

World Trade Center by H.A. Dunne & Co., New Milford, CT, on Flickr
Site clearance and early stages of excavation 1967-8. Note the Steamshovel!

World Trade Center by H.A. Dunne & Co., New Milford, CT, on Flickr
April 1968
http://www.businessinsider.com/world-trade-center-history-2011-9?op=1
Looking south. Excavation work nears completion on the "bathtub".

World Trade Center by H.A. Dunne & Co., New Milford, CT, on Flickr
Looking north. Finishing excavation July 19 1968

World Trade Center by H.A. Dunne & Co., New Milford, CT, on Flickr
all above: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thearchiveonline/
1966 reel showing WTC site clearance: (at 1:26)
The WTC site as it appeared in the mid 1960s. Known as "Radio Row" the low rise buildings dating to the 1850s were, by 1960, a disheveled lot of derelict and low rent repair and radio shops. The two higher buildings at 30 and 50 Church St. were the Hudson Terminal Buildings that stood above the PATH/subway tracks. And they stood squarely in the sights of Robert Moses and the Port Authority.
West Street, West Side Highway and abandoned 19th century warehouses at World Trade Center site before construction started on the WTC. 1966. New York

West Street, West Side Highway and abandoned 19th century warehouses at World Trade Center site before construction started on the WTC. 1966. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
Washington St and Chambers St toward Hudson and West Side Highway. Not far from the future World Trade Center. 1967. New York

Abandoned 19th century buildings at Washington St and Chambers St toward Hudson and West Side Highway. Not far from the future World Trade Center. 1967. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
West St. at Jay and Caroline vacated prior to demolition 1967

West Street, West Side Highway, at end of Jay St by Caroline St. 1967. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
West St. between Duane and Reade 1967

West Street between Duane and Reade Sts. Right by the new World Trade Center. 1967. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
West Street between Jay St and Duane Street. Right by the new World Trade Center. New York. 1967

West Street between Jay St and Duane Street. Right by the new World Trade Center. New York. 1967 by wavz13, on Flickr
West St. and Warren 1967

West Street and Warren St. 1967. New York. Just a few blocks north of the new World Trade Center. by wavz13, on Flickr
West St. and Chambers 1967

West Street and Chambers St. 1967. Just a few blocks from the new World Trade Center. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
Washington Market, demolished in 1967 to make way for the WTC.

The Bowery Boys http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com/2010/08/mad-men-notes-swanky-steaks-and.html
The Site

1966-67 The site looking north towards the NY Telephone Building.

World Trade Center site in 1966. New York Telephone building and the West Side Highway surround it. by wavz13, on Flickr
Site clearance nearly finished and excavation begins c.1966

World Trade Center site before construction started. 1967. New York by wavz13, on Flickr
Excavation complete and construction underway 1967-68

World Trade Center by H.A. Dunne & Co., New Milford, CT, on Flickr
Site clearance and early stages of excavation 1967-8. Note the Steamshovel!

World Trade Center by H.A. Dunne & Co., New Milford, CT, on Flickr
April 1968

http://www.businessinsider.com/world-trade-center-history-2011-9?op=1
Looking south. Excavation work nears completion on the "bathtub".

World Trade Center by H.A. Dunne & Co., New Milford, CT, on Flickr
Looking north. Finishing excavation July 19 1968

World Trade Center by H.A. Dunne & Co., New Milford, CT, on Flickr
all above: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thearchiveonline/
1966 reel showing WTC site clearance: (at 1:26)