34 Historical Photos That Show How Different America Was 200 Years Ago

The international council of women became the first organization of women to promote the advancement of women’s rights and equality. Emerged from the growing discourse around gender- based injustice that was prevalent in the later part of the 19th century.

In the late 19th century, there were a large number of homeless children on the streets of New York. Some of the children who lived in the streets had homes, but preferred to sleep on the street, as their tenements were often too small, unsanitary, or overcrowded.

While the east coast was building wooden structures like our little cottage, that were more reminiscent of homes in Britain; the west was building homes from sod, mud and grass. Wood and other materials were not as plentiful on the great plains.

Henry Ford drives his first automobile. By the late 1800’s, people had traveled by wagon, stagecoach, train, bicycle, horseback and trolley. Automobiles had not yet been invented until Henry Ford created the quadricycle, his first attempt at a vehicle that was gas powered. It was constructed of cast iron for ther outer body and a leather belt and chairn for a transmission.

Part of How the Other Half Lives, an early photojournalist publication pursuing better conditions for the lower class of New York City. The photo and publication's impact was such that they contributed to the crime-ridden Bend's replacement with Columbus Park.

From 1879 to 1893, it was Americas largest railway system, which became the Great Northern Railway.

In the 1880’s, the popular mode of transporting goods and people across the western United States was by stage coach. It was a long route with many stage coach stops every few hours along the way. Drivers could swap out their tired team of horses for fresh ones and passengers could stretch their legs and get a bite to eat. Hence the name “transportation occurring in stages”. Even though by now, the railroad was now moving freight and passengers, in rural areas, the stage coach was still the popular mode of transportation.

In the late 1880’s families would await the arrival of ‘Circus Day’ when performers, animals, and acrobats from Ringling Bros. Circus would parade through town announcing the arrival of the circus.

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