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What Fifth Avenue looked like in the 1900s: A Photographic Tour

In the early 1900s, Fifth Avenue was a place where the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages mingled with the rumble of new motor omnibuses, and where the city’s wealthiest families built homes of staggering size and detail.

The stretch of Fifth Avenue bordering Central Park, from 59th Street to 96th Street, earned the nickname “Millionaire’s Row.” Here stood the grand mansions of New York’s most prominent families. The Vanderbilts, a family who amassed a fortune from railroads and shipping, had several residences along this avenue. Their “Triple Palace” occupied an entire block, and the Cornelius Vanderbilt II Mansion was the largest single-family house in the city at the time. These homes were not just residences; they were statements of wealth, designed in styles that borrowed from European palaces, with limestone facades and intricate carvings.

Further down, the architecture told a different story. South of 59th Street, the avenue was in a state of transition. While still lined with impressive brownstones, commercial buildings began to reshape the skyline. The rise of these new structures marked a shift in the avenue’s character, as businesses started to replace private homes. One of the first significant changes was the demolition of the James A. Burden Jr. mansion at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue in 1916, making way for a 12-story apartment building.

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Getting around on Fifth Avenue was an experience in itself. In the early part of the century, horse-drawn omnibuses were a common sight. By 1905, the Fifth Avenue Coach Company introduced a fleet of French DeDion-Bouton double-decker motor buses. These new vehicles were an instant success, offering commuters and sightseers a new way to travel the length of the avenue, from Washington Square to 59th Street.

The avenue was also becoming a destination for shoppers. While many of the now-famous luxury stores had yet to establish their flagship locations, the seeds of Fifth Avenue’s retail future were being planted. Tiffany & Co. was already a prominent name, though its iconic store was then located on Union Square. The practice of creating elaborate holiday window displays began during this period, with stores like Macy’s pioneering the tradition of festive, Christmas-themed windows that would become a hallmark of the avenue. This new form of visual merchandising turned the sidewalks into a gallery for passersby.

Daily life on Fifth Avenue for the wealthy involved a strict social calendar, with the grand ballrooms of the mansions hosting lavish parties. For those who lived and worked in the area but were not part of this elite circle, the avenue was a place of employment and constant activity. The presence of these grand homes required a large staff of servants, and the construction of new buildings brought a steady stream of laborers to the area. The street was a bustling artery of the city, alive with the movement of people from all walks of life.

#1 Plaza Hotel from Fifth Avenue at W. 58th Street, New York, circa 1907.

Plaza Hotel From Fifth Avenue At W. 58Th Street, New York, Circa 1907.

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#2 Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, circa 1908.

Fifth Avenue And 42Nd Street, New York, Circa 1908.

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#3 Fifth Avenue Hotel, southwest corner of Madison Square, New York, circa 1901.

Fifth Avenue Hotel, Southwest Corner Of Madison Square, New York, Circa 1901.

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#4 Gotham and St. Regis hotels, looking south along Fifth Avenue at East 56th Street, New York, circa 1905.

Gotham And St. Regis Hotels, Looking South Along Fifth Avenue At East 56Th Street, New York, Circa 1905.

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#5 Plaza Hotel, Grand Army Plaza and W. 58th Street, Manhattan, circa 1907.

Plaza Hotel, Grand Army Plaza And W. 58Th Street, Manhattan, Circa 1907.

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#6 Union League Club, Fifth Avenue and West 39th Street, New York, circa 1906.

Union League Club, Fifth Avenue And West 39Th Street, New York, Circa 1906.

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#7 B. Altman store, Fifth Avenue and East 35th Street, New York, circa 1906.

B. Altman Store, Fifth Avenue And East 35Th Street, New York, Circa 1906.

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#8 Fifth Avenue and Forty-Second Street, New York, circa 1908.

Fifth Avenue And Forty-Second Street, New York, Circa 1908.

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#9 Hotel Netherland, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, New York, 1900.

Hotel Netherland, Fifth Avenue And 59Th Street, New York, 1900.

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#10 Thirty-Eighth Street west from Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1908.

Thirty-Eighth Street West From Fifth Avenue, New York, Circa 1908.

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#11 Fifth Avenue hotels north from 51st Street, New York, circa 1908.

Fifth Avenue Hotels North From 51St Street, New York, Circa 1908.

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#12 Fifth Avenue after a snowstorm, New York, circa 1905.

Fifth Avenue After A Snowstorm, New York, Circa 1905.

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#14 Easter crowds on Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1904.

Easter Crowds On Fifth Avenue, New York, Circa 1904.

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#15 Up Fifth Avenue from 28th Street, with a view of Marble Collegiate Church, New York, circa 1905.

Up Fifth Avenue From 28Th Street, With A View Of Marble Collegiate Church, New York, Circa 1905.

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#16 Fifth Avenue from Forty-Second Street, with the lions of the New York Public Library at right, Manhattan, circa 1916.

Fifth Avenue From Forty-Second Street, With The Lions Of The New York Public Library At Right, Manhattan, Circa 1916.

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#18 The Waldorf-Astoria at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street, New York, circa 1902.

The Waldorf-Astoria At Fifth Avenue And 34Th Street, New York, Circa 1902.

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#19 Panorama of Madison Square with the Flatiron Building, New York, circa 1909.

Panorama Of Madison Square With The Flatiron Building, New York, Circa 1909.

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#20 John C. Graul’s art store, 217 Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1900.

John C. Graul'S Art Store, 217 Fifth Avenue, New York, Circa 1900.

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#21 Knickerbocker Trust Building and Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Fifth Avenue at W. 34th Street, New York, 1904.

Knickerbocker Trust Building And Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Fifth Avenue At W. 34Th Street, New York, 1904.

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#23 St. Regis and Gotham hotels, looking south along Fifth Avenue at East 56th Street, New York, circa 1905.

St. Regis And Gotham Hotels, Looking South Along Fifth Avenue At East 56Th Street, New York, Circa 1905.

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#24 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street, New York, circa 1910.

Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Fifth Avenue And West 34Th Street, New York, Circa 1910.

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#25 Detroit Photographic Co., 229 Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1903.

Detroit Photographic Co., 229 Fifth Avenue, New York, Circa 1903.

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#26 Flatiron Building corner after a snowstorm, New York, circa 1905.

Flatiron Building Corner After A Snowstorm, New York, Circa 1905.

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#28 A living sign on Fifth Avenue for Dr. Rankin’s Dental Parlor, New York, circa 1905.

A Living Sign On Fifth Avenue For Dr. Rankin'S Dental Parlor, New York, Circa 1905.

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#29 Charles T. Yerkes house, Fifth Avenue and East 68th, New York, circa 1908.

Charles T. Yerkes House, Fifth Avenue And East 68Th, New York, Circa 1908.

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#31 Hotel Manhattan, 42nd Street, New York, circa 1904.

Hotel Manhattan, 42Nd Street, New York, Circa 1904.

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#32 Hotels Netherland and Savoy, Fifth Avenue and East 58th, New York, circa 1905.

Hotels Netherland And Savoy, Fifth Avenue And East 58Th, New York, Circa 1905.

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#33 Marble Collegiate Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1907.

Marble Collegiate Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, Circa 1907.

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#34 Flatiron Building, Broadway and Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1905.

Flatiron Building, Broadway And Fifth Avenue, New York, Circa 1905.

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#35 The New York Public Library under construction, circa 1908.

The New York Public Library Under Construction, Circa 1908.

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#36 Cafe Martin, Fifth Avenue and 26th Street, New York, circa 1908.

Cafe Martin, Fifth Avenue And 26Th Street, New York, Circa 1908.

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#37 Gen. Sherman statue at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, with Hotels Netherland, Savoy and St. Regis, New York, circa 1904.

Gen. Sherman Statue At Fifth Avenue And 59Th Street, With Hotels Netherland, Savoy And St. Regis, New York, Circa 1904.

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#38 Hotel Netherland, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, New York, 1905.

Hotel Netherland, Fifth Avenue And 59Th Street, New York, 1905.

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#39 Gorham Co. building, Fifth Avenue and 36th Street, New York, circa 1906.

Gorham Co. Building, Fifth Avenue And 36Th Street, New York, Circa 1906.

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#40 Fifth Avenue at 57th Street, looking toward Vanderbilt House, Plaza Hotel and entrance to Central Park, New York, circa 1905.

Fifth Avenue At 57Th Street, Looking Toward Vanderbilt House, Plaza Hotel And Entrance To Central Park, New York, Circa 1905.

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#41 Flat-Iron Building, Fifth Avenue and Broadway, New York, circa 1903.

Flat-Iron Building, Fifth Avenue And Broadway, New York, Circa 1903.

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#42 Flatiron Building, looking south down Broadway, with Fifth Avenue to the right, New York, circa 1903.

Flatiron Building, Looking South Down Broadway, With Fifth Avenue To The Right, New York, Circa 1903.

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#43 Detroit Photographic Company, 229 Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1903.

Detroit Photographic Company, 229 Fifth Avenue, New York, Circa 1903.

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#44 Blockaded cars on 23rd Street with the Flatiron Building, New York, circa 1905.

Blockaded Cars On 23Rd Street With The Flatiron Building, New York, Circa 1905.

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#45 B. Altman store, Fifth Avenue and East 35th Street, New York, circa 1906.

B. Altman Store, Fifth Avenue And East 35Th Street, New York, Circa 1906.

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#46 Marble Collegiate Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, October 1907.

Marble Collegiate Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, October 1907.

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#47 Street scene with pedestrians, traffic, cars, and a double-decker bus on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, 1900s.

Street Scene With Pedestrians, Traffic, Cars, And A Double-Decker Bus On Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, 1900S.

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#48 Fifth Avenue and Madison Square, New York, circa 1900.

Fifth Avenue And Madison Square, New York, Circa 1900.

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#49 Fifth Avenue at Fifty-first Street, New York City.

Fifth Avenue At Fifty-First Street, New York City.

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#50 Auto buses servicing Riverside Drive, Seventh & Fifth Avenue, New York, 1900s.

Auto Buses Servicing Riverside Drive, Seventh &Amp;Amp; Fifth Avenue, New York, 1900S.

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#51 Fifth Avenue at 65th Street, New York City, 1901.

Fifth Avenue At 65Th Street, New York City, 1901.

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#52 Fifth Avenue at Sixty-Fifth Street, New York City, circa 1901.

Fifth Avenue At Sixty-Fifth Street, New York City, Circa 1901.

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#53 Delmonico’s Restaurant, Fifth Avenue and 44th Street, New York City, 1903.

Delmonico'S Restaurant, Fifth Avenue And 44Th Street, New York City, 1903.

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#54 People walk past a building under construction at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Forty Second Street, New York City, 1904.

People Walk Past A Building Under Construction At The Corner Of Fifth Avenue And Forty Second Street, New York City, 1904.

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#55 Street scene in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in New York City, circa 1906.

Street Scene In Front Of St. Patrick'S Cathedral On Fifth Avenue In New York City, Circa 1906.

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#56 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, circa 1903.

Metropolitan Museum Of Art, New York City, Circa 1903.

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#57 St. Patrick’s Parade, Fifth Avenue, New York City, March 1909.

St. Patrick'S Parade, Fifth Avenue, New York City, March 1909.

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#59 St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, New York City, early 1900s.

St. Patrick'S Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, New York City, Early 1900S.

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#61 Fifth Avenue and New York Public Library at Forty-second Street, New York City, 1908.

Fifth Avenue And New York Public Library At Forty-Second Street, New York City, 1908.

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#62 Photographer on a beam above Fifth Avenue photographs a scene in New York City, 1907.

Photographer On A Beam Above Fifth Avenue Photographs A Scene In New York City, 1907.

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#63 Hotel Netherland – Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, New York.

Hotel Netherland - Fifth Avenue And 59Th Street, New York.

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#64 Fifth Avenue Looking South To Flatiron Building, New York City, circa 1905.

Fifth Avenue Looking South To Flatiron Building, New York City, Circa 1905.

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#65 Intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue Looking North, New York City, circa 1900.

Intersection Of Broadway And Fifth Avenue Looking North, New York City, Circa 1900.

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#66 Public Library Building, New York City, circa 1915.

Public Library Building, New York City, Circa 1915.

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Written by Makayla White

An amateur content creator and dreamer. I Run, Cycle, Swim, Dance and drink a lot of Coffee.

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