Life at the Turn of the Century: 33 Vintage Photos From the 1890s

Written by Rachel Schneider on
A historic sepia photo split in two: on the left, people stand outside the "Man at the Wheel Saloon"; on the right, a well-dressed Black couple poses in formal Victorian-era attire.

The 1890s sat on the edge of two centuries — still dusty from the Wild West, but already humming with the first flickers of modern life. Horse-drawn carriages rolled past electric streetlights, corsets shared space with factory whistles, and small-town general stores coexisted with sprawling department stores in cities like Chicago and New York. It was a decade caught in transition, and these photos depict its ever-changing atmosphere.

1. A Sailor With a Hidden Surprise in His Beard (1890)

An older man with a long, bushy beard sits for a portrait. He wears a cap and coat. A small black cat is nestled comfortably within his large, flowing beard. The image is in black and white.
SomeHighDragonfly / Reddit.com

2. Sharpshooter Annie Oakley on a Rearing Horse (1890)

A woman in a long dress and hat rides a rearing horse on muddy ground, with a tent and people in the background.
eaglemaxie / Reddit.com

3. Buffalo Bill in Rome at Caffè Greco (1890)

Two Native American men in traditional attire sit at a table in a European-style cafe with two other men. Ornate wall decor and a chandelier are visible, suggesting an elegant, historic setting.
notlur / Reddit.com

4. Horsewoman Selika Lazevski (1891)

A poised Black woman in Victorian-era attire poses with confidence. She wears a fitted dark jacket, a tall light-colored hat, and holds a slender cane. A fur drape covers the background, enhancing the elegant setting.
Systepup / Reddit.com

5. Portrait of Ten Chiefs (1891)

A group of ten Native American men in traditional clothing pose in front of a teepee. The central figure in front wears a feathered headdress; others wear blankets draped over their shoulders. The photo appears colorized.
sayknow / Reddit.com

6. The Bowdoin College Tug of War Team (1891)

Four men in vintage athletic uniforms pose with thick ropes, two standing with arms crossed and two seated on the floor. The sepia-toned photo has a studio backdrop and the word "Bowdoin" in the bottom right corner.
itsahhmemario / Reddit.com

7. Men Laying a Wooden Water Pipeline in Idaho (1891)

A sepia-toned photo shows a group of men in old-fashioned clothing posing around and inside a large wooden pipe being installed in a trench, with leafless trees and small buildings in the background.
BumbleSnickersnack / Reddit.com

8. Women Making a Snow Lady (1892)

Two women in dark clothing build a large, detailed snowwoman with a dress and hat in a snowy park, with trees and a fence visible in the background.
KatyaRomici00 / Reddit.com

9. The First Employees of the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta (1892)

A group of men, women, and children pose in front of a building with a Coca-Cola sign above the door. The photo appears to be from the early 1900s, judging by their vintage clothing and hats.
Outrageous_Cod_8141 / Reddit.com

10. Mugshot of 2-Year-Old Francois Bertillon (1893)

Sepia-toned photo of a young child with wavy hair, sitting in a chair. One image shows a side profile, and the other shows a front view. Handwritten notes are visible on the bottom of the image.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

11. One Impressive Mustache (1893) 

A sepia-toned portrait of a man with neatly styled hair, a full beard, and mustache. He is wearing a suit jacket, white shirt, and a cravat with a pin, looking slightly to the left.
Imgur

12. Constructing the Waldorf Astoria (1893)

Two men in suits dine on a steel beam high above New York City, while two waiters in tuxedos serve them food and drinks. Skyscrapers and city buildings are visible below in the background.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

13. Spelman College Graduates (1893)

A sepia-toned photo of eight young Black women in formal Victorian-era dresses, seated and standing on steps in front of a building. A label reads “Academic Graduates, 1893.”
TheAfternoonStandard / Reddit.com

14. Twin Boys Showing Some Brotherly Love (1894)

Two young boys in old-fashioned outfits stand side by side, holding hands. Each wears a dark jacket, white collar shirt, knee-length pants, tall socks, and holds a hat. The photo has a sepia tone and a vintage studio backdrop.
Sylvi2021 / Reddit.com

15. Discovering the Statue of Antinous (1894)

A group of men stands around an excavation site, where a partially unearthed statue or figure is emerging from the dirt, surrounded by rocky terrain and a steep soil embankment.
eaglemaxie / Reddit.com

16. Mark Twain Working in Tesla’s Laboratory (1894)

A man in a suit and bow tie stands in a dimly lit room, holding a glowing light source in his hands. Laboratory equipment is visible in the background.
LookDeepIntoTheParka / Reddit.com

17. A Boy and His Bike (1894)

Sepia-toned old photograph of a young man in a suit and hat, standing outdoors with one hand on a vintage bicycle. Trees and foliage are visible in the background. The photo shows signs of aging and wear.
TBoneTheOriginal / Reddit.com

18. Native American Girl Smiling (1894)

A Native American woman stands smiling, wearing traditional dress adorned with beads and fringe, standing beside a woven blanket draped over a stand, in a vintage sepia photograph.
erogurooo / Reddit.com

19. Horace Hart, Inventor of the Oxford Comma (1895)

Black and white portrait of an older man with a white beard and mustache, wearing a graduation cap, dark academic gown, suit with a vest, pocket watch chain, and his hands in his pockets, standing against a painted backdrop.
Daqlumpk / Reddit.com

20. Armenian Women Heading to War Against the Ottomans (1895)

Two women in traditional clothing stand side by side, holding rifles and wearing bandoliers across their chests. They look confidently at the camera in a vintage, black-and-white portrait.
Daqlumpk

21. Man at the Wheel Saloon (1895)

Black-and-white photo of four men standing in front of a wooden building labeled "Man at the Wheel Saloon." Another man stands on the roof holding a ship’s wheel. The building has ornate trim and advertising signs.
frankiepytlak / Reddit.com

22. Stage Coach Mary, the First Black Mail Carrier in the U.S. (1895)

A Black woman in a long dress and headscarf stands holding a rifle, with a dog lying at her feet. The background shows an ornate painted backdrop resembling a porch or veranda. The photo has a sepia tone.
neuda17 / Reddit.com

23. Walking the Dog in Snow Shoes (1896)

A man wearing winter clothing and snowshoes stands next to a large dog in front of a tree on a snowy landscape. The man holds a walking stick, and both appear to be looking ahead. The scene is in black and white.
pete716 / Reddit.com

24. Norwegian Explorer, Fridtjof Nansen (1896)

A stern-looking man with short, light hair and a mustache wears a heavy fur coat and looks directly at the camera in this sepia-toned, vintage portrait.
ablazer / Reddit.com

25. Crown Princess Marie of Romania (1896)

A woman in an ornate dress and veil sits on a decorative chair, holding a bouquet of lilies. She wears a jeweled headdress with a cross, flowers, and pearls, and looks directly at the camera in this vintage black-and-white photo.
mega002 / Reddit.com

26. Charles Eastman, Founder of Boy Scouts of America (1897)

A man in a formal suit with a high-buttoned jacket sits for a portrait against a plain background, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

27. Laverie Valee, Trapeze Artist and Strongwoman (1897)

A vintage photo of a woman in an elegant dress and large feathered hat flexing her arm to show off her bicep, combining strength and femininity. The image has a hand-colored, retro style.
Zahulie / Reddit.com

28. Churning Butter While Reading (1897)

A woman in old-fashioned clothing sits on a bench outside a rustic building, churning butter. She holds an object in one hand and a cat stands nearby. A basket and kitchen items are visible next to her.
MalibuHulaDuck / Reddit.com

29. Missouri Couple (1898)

A sepia-toned vintage portrait of a woman in a ruffled dress standing beside a seated man in a suit, both looking directly at the camera with a blurred studio backdrop behind them.
TheAfternoonStandard / Reddit.com

30. Leopold de Rothschild’s Zebra-Pulled Carriage in London (1898)

A black-and-white photo shows a Victorian-era carriage pulled by four zebras. A coachman and several passengers in period attire sit in the carriage, with a large building and trees in the background.
vihlun / Reddit.com

31. Boxing on the USS New York (1899)

Two men wearing vintage boxing gear spar on a ship’s deck, surrounded by sailors in uniform who watch the match intently. Some sailors crouch and others stand, creating a lively scene from the early 20th century.
Psychoshy1101 / Reddit.com

32. Civil War Veteran Jacob Miller, Who Lived with an Open Gunshot Wound to His Forehead

An elderly man with a long white beard wears a dark coat and a star-shaped medal on his chest. He looks directly at the camera with a solemn expression against a plain, blurred background.
RIPJ4WZ / Reddit.com

33. Kisses at the Pumpkin Patch (1899)

A sepia-toned photo of a young couple kissing while sitting on the ground in a pumpkin patch, with corn stalks behind them. Another woman is seen in the background, picking crops.
Lillipout / Reddit.com

Want more old-school content? 

Take a trip to another world with these 10 Captivating Photos of America’s Gold Rush. You might also want to read 15 Eerie Photos of Abandoned Coal Mines and 25 Vintage Photos That Prove Pets Have Always Been Family.