If you wanted to see images of old New York, you used to have to take a trip to the New York Public Library. Of the 3.5 trillion photographs that have been taken since the technology was first developed, the Library’s Milstein Division houses approximately 54,000 images of NYC that were captured between the 1870s and 1970s. Only a decade ago, you would have to make a request to view the photos on microfilm, and your only option was to view them right there in the library.

But that all changed with the OldNYC app. The app, which came on the market in May, digitally tags each of the 54,000 photos with their location, and then clumps them together at thousands of places and intersections across New York’s five boroughs. When you open the app, it determines your location; when you zoom in on the map, you can zoom in and click on the photos that were taken at or near your specific spot in the city.

The app is making history totally accessible for New York residents and visitors alike. Anyone who downloads the app or visits the coordinating website has instant access to thousands of photos that forever preserve NYC’s past. One tap can reveal that the area near the JFK airport used to be farmland. Even city landmarks and iconic buildings like Central Park and Radio City Music Hall have changed quite noticeably over time.

But one thing that hasn’t changed is the annual Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. The Radio City Rockettes and Santa Clause now begin promoting the holiday tradition early with another yearly ritual: the “Christmas in August” event.

Late August tends to be a relatively quiet time in NYC, so Radio City makes it snow on Sixth Avenue in summertime. Performers and spectators alike say that it’s a fun and more intimate way to spread joy and keep the Christmas spirit alive throughout the year.

Since its debut in 1933, the Christmas Spectacular has become ingrained with the New York holiday season. Just like OldNYC, it’s received some updates for the modern age, but it’s a wonderful way to keep memories alive.

Whether you want to watch a holiday spectacle or pull up old photos on your phone, there are many ways to immerse yourself in the culture and celebrate the rich history of New York City year-round.