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New York City Blackout Of 1977: Causes, Facts, And Photos Show The Blackout From The Streets And Aftermath

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On Wednesday, July 13, 1977, a series of lightning struck on the power lines and infrastructure led to a cascade of shutdowns, power failures, and overloads. The entire Con Edison system powering New York City shut down completely. Traffic lights went dark, elevators stalled, subways ground to halt. The Mets-Cubs game at Shea stadium ended in the bottom of the sixth inning.

No sooner had the power gone out than the looting and arson began. Over a thousand fires were reported, and more than 1,600 stores damaged or ransacked. In just 24 hours, more than $300 million of the property had been damaged. Looters grabbed whatever they could get their hands on, such as vehicles, furniture, food, clothes, and several other things. The sweltering streets became a battleground where several people were mugging even the looters. Power was slowly restored over the next day, with the entire city online by 10:39 p.m. The city was left without power for 25 hours. The police arrested over 3,700 people involved in looting and damaging properties.

The chaos was a marked contrast to the “can-do” attitude of New Yorkers in the previous great blackout of 1965. Despite the prevalent mood of panic, many did spring into action, helping neighbors in need, directing traffic, and trying to keep the peace.

The following photos show what happened during and after the blackout of 1977.

#1 A restaurant owner writes a sign to advise cutsomers that there is no food and no lights, but lots of liquor after the New York blackout July 13, 1977

A restaurant owner writes a sign to advise cutsomers that there is no food and no lights, but lots of liquor after the New York blackout July 13, 1977

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#2 The twin towers of the World Trade Center on the first morning of the power blackout of July 1977

The twin towers of the World Trade Center on the first morning of the power blackout of July 1977

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#3 Auxiliary lights, including the headlights from cars in center field, light up Shea Stadium July 13th during the height of the blackout, New York City, July 13, 1977.

Auxiliary lights, including the headlights from cars in center field, light up Shea Stadium July 13th during the height of the blackout, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#4 A young woman directing traffic in the wake of the New York City blackout, 1977.

A young woman directing traffic in the wake of the New York City blackout, 1977.

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#5 People playing poker game by candlelight during a power cut, New York, July 13, 1977

People playing poker game by candlelight during a power cut, New York, July 13, 1977

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#6 Some stores in the Bronx along the Grand Concourse have been vandalized during the blackout, New York City, July 13, 1977.

Some stores in the Bronx along the Grand Concourse have been vandalized during the blackout, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#7 View of 34th St. in New York City during power outage, New York City, July 13, 1977.

View of 34th St. in New York City during power outage, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#8 View of 59th St. in New York City during power outage, New York City, July 13, 1977.

View of 59th St. in New York City during power outage, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#9 Stranded people sleeping in the lobby at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, New York City, July 13, 1977.

Stranded people sleeping in the lobby at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#10 Daily News front page featuring NYC Blackout, July 14, 1977.

Daily News front page featuring NYC Blackout, July 14, 1977.

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#11 John Stearns catches some light at Shea, New York, July 13, 1977.

John Stearns catches some light at Shea, New York, July 13, 1977.

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#12 Handcuffed men who were arrested for looting during the blackout, New York City, 1977.

Handcuffed men who were arrested for looting during the blackout, New York City, 1977.

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#13 Looters, young and old, leave an A & P supermarket at Ogden Avenue and 166th Street in the Bronx through a broken window, New York, New York, 1977.

Looters, young and old, leave an A & P supermarket at Ogden Avenue and 166th Street in the Bronx through a broken window, New York, New York, 1977.

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#14 Looter is arrested during 1977 Blackout Power Failure at Utica and Eastern Parkway, New York City, 1977.

Looter is arrested during 1977 Blackout Power Failure at Utica and Eastern Parkway, New York City, 1977.

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#15 Aerial view of a building burning in the wake of the New York City blackout, Brooklyn, New York City, 1977.

Aerial view of a building burning in the wake of the New York City blackout, Brooklyn, New York City, 1977.

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#16 Interior of the Food City supermarket at Walton Ave. and East Burnside Ave. in the Bronx with spoiled food and looted discards as clerks restock the shelves, New York City, July 13, 1977.

Interior of the Food City supermarket at Walton Ave. and East Burnside Ave. in the Bronx with spoiled food and looted discards as clerks restock the shelves, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#17 Protective gate in front of store on Broadway between 145th and 165th Sts. lies twisted on the street after looting during 1977 blackout.

Protective gate in front of store on Broadway between 145th and 165th Sts. lies twisted on the street after looting during 1977 blackout.

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#18 Aftermath of 1977 blackout power failure, New York City, July 13, 1977.

Aftermath of 1977 blackout power failure, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#19 A policeman collars a looter in the Bushwick section of Brookly, New York City, July 13, 1977.

A policeman collars a looter in the Bushwick section of Brookly, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#20 A group of people sits on the sidewalk and have a party outside the Food restaurant in SoHo, New York City, 1977.

A group of people sits on the sidewalk and have a party outside the Food restaurant in SoHo, New York City, 1977.

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#21 A group of young girls play in the water from an opened fire hydrant after the blackout of 1977.

A group of young girls play in the water from an opened fire hydrant after the blackout of 1977.

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#22 A crowd of New Yorkers make their way home during a power cut after a power station was struck by lightning July 13, 1977

A crowd of New Yorkers make their way home during a power cut after a power station was struck by lightning July 13, 1977

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#23 People gather on and around a monument to composer George M. Cohan in a darkened Times Square during a power outage, New York City, July 13, 1977.

People gather on and around a monument to composer George M. Cohan in a darkened Times Square during a power outage, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#24 During a blackout, pedestrians on onlookers stand around the site of a traffic accident between a car and a taxi, New York City, July 13, 1977.

During a blackout, pedestrians on onlookers stand around the site of a traffic accident between a car and a taxi, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#25 NYC skyline from Queens during the power blackout, July 13, 1977.

NYC skyline from Queens during the power blackout, July 13, 1977.

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#26 With subway service cut off, people crowd aboard a bus on Seventh Avenue, New York City, July 13, 1977.

With subway service cut off, people crowd aboard a bus on Seventh Avenue, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#27 Actress Jean Simmons climbs four flights to rehearsal during the blackout of 1977.

Actress Jean Simmons climbs four flights to rehearsal during the blackout of 1977.

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#28 Stock Broker Paul R. Esserman gets Break from normally Busy Routine, New York, July 13, 1977.

Stock Broker Paul R. Esserman gets Break from normally Busy Routine, New York, July 13, 1977.

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#29 Cops contain suspected looters at Grand Concourse and Fordham Road in the Bronx, New York City, 1977.

Cops contain suspected looters at Grand Concourse and Fordham Road in the Bronx, New York City, 1977.

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#30 Looters in Spanish Harlem during the 1977 blackout power failure, New York City, 1977.

Looters in Spanish Harlem during the 1977 blackout power failure, New York City, 1977.

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#31 view of a building burning in the wake of the New York City, July 13, 1977.

view of a building burning in the wake of the New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#32 Police officers and passersby stand in front of a damaged store front, looted in the wake of the New York City blackout, New York City, 1977.

Police officers and passersby stand in front of a damaged store front, looted in the wake of the New York City blackout, New York City, 1977.

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#33 People look on on as firemen put an end to arsonist’s handiwork on Marmion Ave, New York City, July 13, 1977.

People look on on as firemen put an end to arsonist's handiwork on Marmion Ave, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#34 Mayor Abe Beame visits merchants on looting after the 1977 blackout power failure at Broadway, near Greene Avenue in Brooklyn, New York City, 1977.

Mayor Abe Beame visits merchants on looting after the 1977 blackout power failure at Broadway, near Greene Avenue in Brooklyn, New York City, 1977.

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#35 Merchant after the 1977 blackout power failure, New York City, July 13, 1977.

Merchant after the 1977 blackout power failure, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#36 Mayor Abe Beame listens to merchant story on looting after the 1977 blackout power failure at Broadway, New York City, July 13, 1977.

Mayor Abe Beame listens to merchant story on looting after the 1977 blackout power failure at Broadway, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#37 The morning after the blackout brought with it a citywide hangover with too many painful symptoms such as this burned-out Brooklyn factory, New York City, 1977.

The morning after the blackout brought with it a citywide hangover with too many painful symptoms such as this burned-out Brooklyn factory, New York City, 1977.

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#38 A woman taking water from a fire hydrant along 1st Avenue in East Harlem during the blackout on July 14, 1977.

A woman taking water from a fire hydrant along 1st Avenue in East Harlem during the blackout on July 14, 1977.

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#39 Mayor Beame and Police commissioner Michael Codd at City Hall press conference about the 1977 blackout.

Mayor Beame and Police commissioner Michael Codd at City Hall press conference about the 1977 blackout.

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#40 Pedestrians stand on a street corner in the wake of the New York City blackout, Brooklyn, New York City, July 13, 1977.

Pedestrians stand on a street corner in the wake of the New York City blackout, Brooklyn, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#41 A group of children play in the water from an opened fire hydrant in Brooklyn Street, New York City, July 13, 1977.

A group of children play in the water from an opened fire hydrant in Brooklyn Street, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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#42 People fill up buckets and bottles from an opened fire hydrant after the blackout, New York City, 1977.

People fill up buckets and bottles from an opened fire hydrant after the blackout, New York City, 1977.

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#43 People fill up buckets and bottles from an opened fire hydrant after the blackout, New York City, 1977.

People fill up buckets and bottles from an opened fire hydrant after the blackout, New York City, 1977.

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#44 Police officers and passersby stand in front of a damaged store front, during the blackout, New York City, 1977.

Police officers and passersby stand in front of a damaged store front, during the blackout, New York City, 1977.

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#45 A young looter holds up a pair of pajamas he has taken from a store in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York City, July 13, 1977.

A young looter holds up a pair of pajamas he has taken from a store in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York City, July 13, 1977.

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Written by Benjamin Grayson

Former Bouquet seller now making a go with blogging and graphic designing. I love creating & composing history articles and lists.

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21 Comments

    • So do I, I think it was on a Thursday. My dad has my brothers and I for the day and we were watching “S.W.A.T.” At destinta in New Windsor. All of a sudden the lights got fucky and the projector went down. We had to go.

      My dad dropped us back off at home and the only thing that was kinda working was a ceiling fan that was too big for my room when it was installed. It made this literal “woo woo” sound. It was funny.

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