Historical Snapshots of Life in Manhattan’s Chinatown During the Early 1900s

At the turn of the 20th century, Manhattan’s Chinatown was an enclave of dreams, aspirations, and a rich tapestry of Eastern traditions. Nestled in the heart of Lower Manhattan, the vibrant narrow streets were alive with the aroma of oriental spices, the sounds of bustling markets, and the sight of traditional Chinese lanterns swaying in the breeze.

The first waves of Chinese immigrants had arrived in the 19th century, mostly from Guangdong province. Fleeing economic hardships and political unrest, they sought new beginnings in the “Golden Mountain” of America. By the 1900s, these settlers had established an ever-growing community that served as a sanctuary from the unfamiliar Western world. From authentic herbal medicine shops to dim sum teahouses, Chinatown was a slice of home amid the urban jungle of Manhattan.

By the early 20th century, the Chinatown community had also begun to make significant imprints on New York’s cultural map. The Lunar New Year was an especially captivating time. Colorful lion dances snaked their way through Mott, Pell, and Doyers streets. Firecrackers popped, warding off evil spirits, and children donned their best silken fineries, embodying hope for a prosperous year ahead.

Here are some stunning historical photos that capture life in Manhattan’s Chinatown at the turn of the 20th Century.

#1 Doyers Street or ‘the Bloody Angle’ in the 1900s.

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#2 Elevated Railroad Station at Chatham Square in the 1900s

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#3 Port Arthur Chinese Restuarant, at 7-9 Mott Street, circa the 1900s, one of the first banquet halls of Chinatown.

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#4 Church of the Transfiguration on Mott Street in Manhattan, circa 1900s.

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#5 Mulberry Street and Columbus Park

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#6 Chinese theater, Doyers Street, Manhattan, 1900.

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#7 Chinese Tuxedo Restaurant, Doyers Street

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#8 Casual posing at the opening of Doyers Street, 1900.

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#9 Sunday school after a visit to Chatham Square, showing Chinese children lined up by size.

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#10 Store front of Quong Yee Wo & Co., Chinatown, 1903.

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#11 Pell Street, Chinatown, Manhattan, 1900

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#12 Street Scene, Doyers Street, Chinatown, Manhattan, Circa 1905

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#13 Mott Street, Chinatown, Manhattan, 1900

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#14 Street Scene, Pell and Doyers Streets, Chinatown, Manhattan, 1900

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#15 Store Front of Quong Yee Wo & Co., Chinatown, Manhattan, Circa 1903

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#16 View Looking North, Showing Chinese Restaurants and Stores on Mott Street, Manhattan, 1905

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#17 Soy Kee Co. Store Front, Chinatown, Manhattan, Circa 1903

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#18 Customers Lying on Bunk Beds, Smoking Opium in a Chinatown Opium Den, Manhattan, 1900s

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#19 Mott Street, Manhattan, Circa 1910

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