All the beaches open for swimming in Depression-era New York City, according to a subway poster

Say what you want about Robert Moses. But as Parks Commissioner in the 1930s, he opened 11 new public municipal pools across the five boroughs—helping residents keep cool and resist the lure of swimming in the East or Hudson River, which amazingly people used to do. Moses, a swim fan himself, also championed and helped improve city beaches. This poster, created in 1937 by what was then called the Department of Parks, lays out five New York beach options for swimming and sand castle–making. The poster is part of the archives at the NYC Department of Records & Information Services, which notes that it’s “original subway art.” Interestingly, the sand castle that says South Beach puts it in “Richmond” rather than Staten Island.