What Queens looked like in the 1890s through these Fascinating Photos

Step into a time machine and journey back to Queens in the 1890s. Forget the skyscrapers and bustling city life we know today. Back then, Queens was a mix of farmland, small villages, and growing towns. It was a time of change, with the echoes of rural life fading as the city’s influence crept eastward.

Life in Queens during this era was much simpler. Most folks lived in small houses or apartments, often close to where they worked. Many people earned a living through farming, raising crops and livestock to feed the growing city. Others worked in local businesses, like blacksmith shops, bakeries, and general stores.

Travel was a bit of an adventure. Forget cars and buses; people relied on horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and their own two feet to get around. The lucky ones lived near the Long Island Railroad, which connected Queens to Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Speaking of Manhattan, Queens was still independent back then. It wouldn’t officially become part of New York City until 1898. This meant Queens had its own local government and a strong sense of community.

Famous Faces and Places

Queens was home to some notable figures in the 1890s. One of them was Helen Keller, the famous deaf and blind author and activist, who lived in the town of Flushing. Another was Scott Joplin, the “King of Ragtime,” who composed music in the area.

As for famous places, Flushing Meadows was a vast marshland back then, a far cry from the park we know today. College Point boasted a bustling shipbuilding industry, while Long Island City was a hub for manufacturing.

Fun and Games

Leisure time in the 1890s meant enjoying simple pleasures. Families and friends gathered for picnics in parks or on beaches. Kids played games like stickball and hopscotch in the streets. Adults might go bowling, attend a baseball game, or enjoy a show at a local theater.

One popular spot was North Beach, a lively amusement park with a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and even a roller coaster. It was a place where people could escape the everyday and experience thrills and excitement.

Food and Flavors

The food scene in Queens was quite different back then. Forget fancy restaurants and fast food chains. Most folks cooked their meals at home, using fresh ingredients from local farms and markets. German immigrants brought their love of beer and sausages, while Italian communities shared their delicious pasta dishes.

Oysters were a popular treat, harvested from the waters surrounding Queens. And for a sweet ending, there were always homemade pies and cakes.

#1 Taking the Trolley through Queens, 1890s.

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#2 New York City harbor scene on the East River, featuring the Sohmer and Company Piano Factory in Astoria, 1891.

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#3 Bridge Plaza North and Hunter Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#4 College Point, Queens, 1890s.

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#5 Corona Avenue and 92nd Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#6 35th Avenue and 215th Place, Queens, 1890s.

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#7 Cross Island Boulevard and 35th Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#8 Cross Island Boulevard and 193rd Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#9 Douglaston, Queens, 1890s.

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#10 Douglaston Parkway and Grand Central Parkway, Queens, 1890s.

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#11 Dry Harbor Road and Furmanville Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#12 21st Avenue and 75th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#13 21st Avenue and Shore Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#14 24th Road and 21st Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#15 28th Avenue and Union Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#16 29th Street and 33rd Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#17 31st Street and 21st Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#18 41st Street and Bowne Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#19 56th Avenue and East 90th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#20 57th Road and 59th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#21 63rd Drive and Carlton Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#22 63rd Road and 99th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#23 69th Street and 61st Place, Queens, 1890s.

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#24 73rd Avenue and Douglaston Parkway, Queens, 1890s.

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#25 Fresh Meadow Lane and Auburndale Lane, Queens, 1890s.

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#26 Fresh Meadow Lane and Quarrelsome Lane, Queens, 1890s.

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#27 Fresh Meadow Lane and 75th Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#28 Fresh Meadow Road and North Hempstead Turnpike, Queens, 1890s.

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#29 Greenport Road and Brookhaven Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#30 Halsey Street and Wyckoff Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#31 Hobart Street and 30th Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#32 Hobart Street and 55th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#33 Hollis Avenue and Colfax Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#34 Hollis Avenue and 201st Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#35 Hollis Avenue and 203rd Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#36 Horatio Parkway and 53rd Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#37 Horsebrook Road between 55th Road and 56th Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#38 Hoyt Avenue and Kindred Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#39 168th Street and 82nd Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#40 Jamaica Avenue and 153rd Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#41 Jamaica Avenue and Parsons Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#42 Jamaica Avenue and Elderts Lane, Queens, 1890s.

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#43 Jamaica Avenue and Commonwealth Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#44 Jamaica Avenue and 187th Place, Queens, 1890s.

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#45 Jamaica Avenue and Hollis Court Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#46 Jamaica Avenue and 241st Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#47 Kissena Boulevard and North Hempstead Turnpike, Queens, 1890s.

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#48 Kissena Park, Queens, 1890s.

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#49 Lawrence Street and 36th Road, Queens, 1890s.

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#50 Lawrence Street and 36th Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#51 Liberty Avenue and 121st Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#52 Lincoln Street and Van Wyck Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#53 Little Neck Bay Meadows, Queens, 1890s.

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#54 Little Neck Parkway and 61st Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#55 Little Neck Parkway and Long Island Expressway, Queens, 1890s.

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#56 Little Neck Parkway and Albert Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#57 Little Neck Parkway and Motor Parkway, Queens, 1890s.

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#58 Main Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#59 Main Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#60 Main Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#61 Main Avenue and Park Row, Queens, 1890s.

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#62 Main Street and Kissena Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#63 Marathon Parkway and 51st Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#64 North Beach, Queens, 1892.

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#65 North Beach, Queens, 1892.

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#66 North Hempstead Turnpike and 141st Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#67 North Hempstead Turnpike and 164th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#68 Northern Boulevard and 190th Street (West), Queens, 1890s.

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#69 Northern Boulevard and Little Neck Parkway, Queens, 1890s.

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#70 Northern Boulevard and Linden Place, Queens, 1890s.

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#71 Northern Boulevard and Junction Boulevard, Queens, 1890s.

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#72 Northern Boulevard and Auburndale Lane, Queens, 1890s.

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#73 Northern Boulevard and 192nd Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#74 Old Bowery Bay Road and 93rd Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#75 Old Bowery Bay Road and 85th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#76 Old Bowery Bay Road and 88th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#77 Old Bowery Bay Road and 88th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#78 Parsons Boulevard and 72nd Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#79 Parsons Boulevard and 89th Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#80 Parsons Boulevard and 17th Road, Queens, 1890s.

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#81 Parsons Boulevard and Union Turnpike, Queens, 1890s.

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#82 Pitkin Avenue and 89th Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#83 Queens Boulevard and 181st Street, Queens, 1890s.

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#84 Queens Boulevard and 82nd Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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#85 Queens Village, Queens, 1890s.

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#86 Read’s Lane and Cornaga Avenue, Queens, 1890s.

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