What Manhattan looked like in the 1880s Through These Fascinting Historic Photos

Imagine a time when skyscrapers were just starting to touch the clouds, horse-drawn carriages ruled the streets, and the electric light bulb was the coolest new gadget around. Welcome to Manhattan in the 1880s!

While today’s Manhattan is known for its iconic skyline, in the 1880s, the race to the sky was just beginning. The world’s first skyscraper was built in 1885, and Manhattan wasn’t far behind. By the end of the decade, architects were already designing taller and taller buildings. In 1883, after 14 years of construction, the Brooklyn Bridge opened, connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn. This was a big deal! For the first time, people could easily walk or ride between the two boroughs without a boat.

Streets Filled with Horses

In the 1880s, Manhattan was pulsating with life and energy, and much of that motion was powered by horses. In fact, there were nearly 150,000 horses living and working in New York City at the time! That’s a lot of horsepower for a city that’s only about 13 miles long. Horses weren’t just for show or leisure rides around Central Park. They were the backbone of commerce. Delivering goods, transporting people, and even hauling away waste, horses were indispensable. Majestic draft horses pulled heavy wagons loaded with goods, while nimble-footed ponies pulled lightweight buggies.

Before the age of subways and buses, there was the horse car – a kind of early version of the trolley, pulled by horses. Streets like Broadway were lined with tracks for these horse cars, providing a somewhat smoother ride than the cobblestones.

The Statue of Liberty Says Hello

One of the most iconic landmarks in the world, the Statue of Liberty, was gifted to the US by France in 1886. This beautiful lady holding her torch high soon became a symbol of hope and freedom for millions. Just think about the excitement and pride the people of Manhattan must have felt when they saw Lady Liberty for the first time!

Electric Lights Brighten the Nights

Thomas Edison, an inventor with an insatiable curiosity and a dream to light up the world. While he wasn’t the sole inventor of the light bulb, Edison’s version was the first commercially viable one. In 1882, he made history by opening the Pearl Street Station in Lower Manhattan. This was the world’s first commercial electric power station, and it was about to change the city’s nights forever.

The Pearl Street Station initially powered about 400 bulbs for 85 customers, covering a square mile of the city. Though that might seem modest by today’s standards, it was revolutionary at the time. Newspapers hailed it as the “Magic City,” marveling at the wondrous sight of electrically lit streets.

Entertainment Was Golden

If you were in Manhattan during the 1880s and wanted a fun night out, you’d probably head to a vaudeville show. These were live variety shows featuring comedians, singers, dancers, and magicians. They were the Netflix of the day!

The fashion scene in the 1880s Manhattan was a mix of elegance and flair. Women wore beautiful, wide-brimmed hats and long dresses with tight waists and full skirts. Men looked dapper in three-piece suits, top hats, and bow ties. Just imagine the charm of walking around in those outfits!

#1 Broadway Near Grand Street, New York City, 1880

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#2 Horse-Drawn Streetcar and Pedestrians at the Intersection of Wall Street and Broadway, New York City, 1880

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#3 Broadway in New York City, 1880

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#4 Traffic on Broadway from the Metropolitan Hotel, New York City, 1880

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#5 Wood-Built Property at 98th Street and Fifth Avenue in East Harlem, Upper Manhattan, New York City, 1888

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#6 Busy Traffic Scene on Broadway Looking North from Cedar Street, New York City, 1880

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#7 Customers and Bartender at Steve Brodie’s Bar and Tavern at Hester and Grand Street on the Bowery, New York City, 1887

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#8 Men Riding Penny-Farthings on the Plaza Near Trinity Church, New York City, 1880s

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#9 East River Harbour, 1880

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#10 Lord & Taylor Department Store at 20th Street and Broadway, New York City, 1883

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#11 High-Angle View Looking Up Broadway from the Corner of Canal Street, New York City, 1885

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#12 Lord & Taylor Department Store at 20th Street and Broadway, New York City, 1883

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#13 Pianos and Organs in the Saleroom of Horace Waters & Sons on Broadway, New York City, 1880

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#14 Interior View of Helmbold’s Drug Store Extending from Broadway to Crosby Street, New York City, 1885

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#15 High-Angle View of Horse-Drawn Traffic on Broadway Near Grand Street, New York City, 1885

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#16 High-Angle View Looking Up Broadway from the Corner of Canal Street, New York City, 1885

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#17 Construction Workers Preparing for Laying Pavement in Lower Manhattan, New York City, 1885

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#18 Carts Outside Storefronts Looking West on South Street, Lower Manhattan, New York City, 1885

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#19 Passengers Boarding a Steamboat at the Foot of Wall Street, East River, Manhattan, New York City, 1889

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#20 High Angle View of Slum Dwellings on Eighth Avenue, West Side of Manhattan, New York City, 1885

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#21 Crowds Gather for Ulysses S. Grant’s Funeral at New York City Hall, New York City, 1885

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#22 Baker’s Delivery Wagon in the Five Points Neighborhood, Lower Manhattan, New York City, 1885

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#23 Children Clearing Snow on Third Avenue After the Blizzard, New York City, 1888

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#24 Trinity Church at Broadway, Wall Street, Lower Broadway, New York City, 1880

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#25 View of Broadway and Maiden Lane, New York City, 1887

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#26 Union Square Hotel, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#27 Castle Garden and Liberty Statue, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#28 Alexandria Firemen, N.Y. Centennial, Union Square, Manhattan, New York City, 1889

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#29 Washington Monument, Union Square, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#30 Smallpox Hospital, Black Wells Island, Roosevelt Island, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#31 Chatham Street from Broadway, Park Row, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#32 Castle Garden, View of Grounds, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#33 Academy of Design, Twenty-Third Street, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#34 Park Row from Tryon Row, City Hall Park, Times Building, St. Paul’s Church, Manhattan, New York City, 1870

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#35 Downtown Manhattan Seen from Brooklyn Docks, East River Flowing into New York Harbor, New York City, 1880

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#36 Staats Zeitung Building, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#37 Beautiful New York, Showing Castle Harbor and Liberty Statue, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#38 Booth’s Theatre, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#39 Union League Club-House on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1880

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#40 Vintage 19th Century Photograph – El Train or Elevated Railway, Manhattan, New York City, 1800

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#41 Third Avenue El, Running from South Ferry to Grand Central Depot at 42nd Street, Manhattan, New York City, 1880

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#42 Downtown Manhattan Seen from Brooklyn Docks, East River Flowing into New York Harbor, New York City, 1880

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#43 Locomotive & One Passenger Car Running on East 42nd Street, Grand Union Hotel in Background, New York City, 1880

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#44 Tammany Hall, Located on 14th Street between Irving Place and Third Avenue, 1880

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#45 Metropolitan Opera House Audience, New York City, 1888

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