The late 19th century was a transformative time. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing, and the world was changing rapidly. As the Ottoman Empire clung to its dwindling power, the United States continued its expansion, often at the expense of Native American communities. Fortunately, photography was beginning to capture moments in ways earlier generations never could.
These rare images below from 130 years ago give us a glimpse of everyday life, cultural landmarks, and historic moments during this transformative period. Let’s explore the world of 1890 through 16 fascinating photos that bring the past into sharp focus.
Related: See the 1890s Through the Lens of a Hidden Camera
1. Carl Størmer's candid street shot in Oslo, 1890.
2. New York’s Times Square looked worlds apart in 1890, a far cry from the bustling hub we know today.
3. Six sumo wrestlers from the late 1890s, standing tall and proud, represent the age-old tradition of Japan’s national sport.
4. A dad and his son share a light moment in Istanbul under the Ottoman Empire, circa 1890.
5. A Persian woman poses with her Kalgan waterpipe in the late 1800s.
6. Paris in 1890 was as picturesque as ever, brimming with iconic architecture and timeless style.
7. A sweet pet portrait from 1890, proving that our love for furry friends has always been camera-worthy.
8. Sharp suits and polished shoes—this fashionable 1890s man could still teach modern gents a thing or two.
9. Jacob White Eyes and Iron Tail make an impression at Caffè Greco, Rome, in this historic 1890s snapshot.
10. Doctors perform an operation in the Boston City Hospital’s operating theater, a stark look at 19th-century medicine.
11. A group gathers on the Fieldbrook stump in California, the remains of a massive redwood tree cut for a drunken wager.
12. A quiet image of Kumamoto Castle in 1890, standing resilient after the Satsuma Rebellion. Also known as the Seinan War, it was a samurai-led revolt against the modernizing Meiji government of Japan, which ultimately ended in defeat and marked the final resistance of the traditional samurai class.
13. The Dakota in the 1890s sat on the outskirts of Manhattan society, a curious blend of grandeur and frontier life.
14. A vibrant fruit shop captured in Japan, 1890.
15. The quaint streets of Oundle, England, in 1890, reflect the charm of a typical market town of the time.
16. A saloon in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, circa 1890, where even the little ones got a pint.
