1850s

  • Split image: Left—two young men in old-fashioned suits hold a sign reading "NOT MARRIED BUT WILLING TO BE." Right—two young girls in matching, frilly dresses stand close together, likely from the 1800s.

    Take a Look Back at the Highs and Lows of Life in the 1850s

    These vintage photos from the 1850s pull back the curtain on everyday life during a decade of rapid change.

    The 1850s were a decade caught between tradition and the promise of a new era. On one hand, you still had horse-drawn carriages and gas-lit streets; on the other, steam engines, telegraphs, and factories were beginning to take over. In…