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25 Colorized Photos From The 1890s

Vintage Photos May 15, 2025

Last Updated on May 15, 2025 by Colby Droscher

These 25 colorized photos from the 1890s offer a unique window into a world that feels both distant and surprisingly familiar. From city streets to personal moments, each image is more than just a snapshot; it’s a portrayal of a transformative era. The shift toward industrialization, along with new advancements in technology and culture, shaped the decade in ways that we can now experience in full color.

These colorized photos offer an intimate glimpse into everyday life, capturing the energy of bustling cities, the quietude of personal moments, and even iconic historical figures. While the world was rapidly evolving, there’s a timeless quality in the faces and places these photos depict, allowing us to connect with the past in a way that feels immediate and real. Step into the past with us with 25 colorized photos from the 1890s.

1. German colonial soldier, 1890s

A young soldier in a khaki uniform, tall boots, and a gray slouch hat stands at attention with a rifle. He is in front of rustic wooden props and purple flowers in a studio setting.
altruistic-prompt-96

That rifle is taller than him.

2. Moscow in the 1890s

A snowy street scene shows horse-drawn sleighs traveling toward a church with golden domes and a tall bell tower. People walk along the road, and bare trees and old buildings line both sides under a cloudy sky.
klimbim

This is a photo of Ostozhenka Street.

3. French cuirassierin the late 1890s

A man in a historic military uniform with gold and red details stands beside a small white table, holding a sword. His helmet with a red plume rests on the table; the background is ornate and vintage in style.
la-couleur

A sword fight would be one of the worst ways to go.

4. An 1890s Victorian girl

A young girl with long, curly brown hair and blue eyes wears a light pink, frilly dress with a floral pattern, posing for a vintage-style portrait against a soft, pastel background.
chroma_gen

She shares a striking resemblance to Reese Witherspoon.

5. Annie Oakley posing with her rifle, 1890s

A woman in Old West attire with a wide-brimmed hat and fringe dress sits sideways on a chair, holding a rifle across her lap and gazing thoughtfully into the distance.
vorst17735

This photo was taken for True West Magazine.

6. A young man studying at his desk

A young man in old-fashioned clothes leans back in a chair with his feet on a table, holding an open book. Behind him are wooden doors and maps on the wall. A lamp and more books sit on the table.
elliottsimon

The fact that cameras from the 1890s could take such clear photos blows me away.

7. 7 ladies having some fun, late 1890s

Seven people dressed in vintage suits, ties, and hats pose together for a formal portrait; six are sitting or standing while one reclines at the front. The scene has a painted backdrop and some greenery.
atisticknight

They were at a photo shoot and wanted to take a goofy photo dressed as men.

8. A young girl from Pennsylvania, early 1890s

A young girl with light eyes and long brown hair in braids, wearing a white high-collared blouse and a blue ribbon in her hair, poses against a soft, dark background.
memorylanepr

When color is added, it’s hard to tell that this photo is over 130 years old.

9. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, 1890

A man with light eyes and a styled mustache wears a blue military uniform with gold trim, a red sash, and several medals, against a dark background.
mark_cavendish

He was the last Tsar of Russia.

10. Stagecoach Mary, 1890

A Black woman in a long dark dress and headscarf stands holding a rifle; a black and white dog lies on a patterned rug at her feet. The background features floral and geometric designs.
oneiricroad

Her job was to protect the goods aboard trains from outlaws.

11. A self-portrait by photographer Frans Gustaf Klemming

A bearded man in a dark shirt, light pants, and a beret stands with arms crossed, smoking a pipe. He faces sideways against a coastal backdrop with cliffs and the sea.
rshicolors

Somehow, he was able to take timer photos before timer photos were a thing.

12. A mountain house in Romsdalen valley, Norway, 1890s

A white house and a wooden swing set stand on grassy land, with dramatic rocky mountains and a clear blue sky in the background. Another small building is visible near the mountains.
kitchender

That’s an outdoorsman’s dream house right there.

13. Logging a big load in Michigan, early 1890s

A group of men pose with a large pile of neatly stacked logs on a sled pulled by two horses in a snowy, leafless forest. One man stands on top of the logs holding an axe.
anamnesiss

Without the help of big machines, they hauled that entire load of logs. Those are some resilient horses.

14. An 1890s wedding photo

A bride in a long pink dress and veil with flower crown stands beside a groom in a dark suit and bow tie. They pose formally in a studio with elegant furniture and a painted backdrop.
anamnesiss

When the color is added, you wouldn’t know if this was 1890 or 1980.

15. Children outside the village hut, early 1890s

A group of children sit on the grass in front of a rustic wooden house with three windows. They are playing and appear relaxed, with a wooden cart nearby. The scene is bright and summery.
kostas26

Kids have been playing with mini-wagons for centuries.

16. A boy and his dog, late 1890s

A barefoot boy in striped pajamas sits on a chair, holding a straw hat and a brown and white dog on his lap. The background is a painted studio backdrop with a chair and plant visible to the side.
memorylanepr

This photo was taken by J.E. Williams in New Athens, Ohio.

17. The corner of West Houston Street and Varick Street, NYC, 1890

A colorized historic photo shows a street corner with Burdge’s Bakery, a wooden building with large red signage, and people walking or standing on the muddy street near brick row houses.
angelina_retro

In 1890, the population of NYC was just over 1.5 million people.

18. Kids sleeping on Mulberry Street, 1890

Three barefoot boys wearing old, worn clothes huddle together, sitting on a metal grate in a stone alleyway. The scene appears historical and somber, suggesting hardship and poverty.
givingcolour2history

This was part of the photographer’s project “How The Other Half Lives.”

19. Winston Churchill in the Army, late 1890s

A person wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a red plume and a khaki military uniform adorned with medals, a tie, and a cross-body strap, poses against a light blue background.
letgothegecko

He became Prime Minister of the UK in 1940.

20. McNeill’s Saloon Hotel, 1890s

A group of men and one woman sit on red leather couches around wooden tables in a spacious room with green walls, a high skylight ceiling, and vintage furniture. The atmosphere appears formal and historic.
chroma_gen

This Saloon/hotel was located in Northern Ireland.

21. Auguste and Louis Lumière, 1895

Two men in dark suits sit closely side by side, facing left. Both have mustaches and short, curly hair, and are looking attentively in the same direction against a plain, draped background.
lorenzo-folli

These two are considered the fathers of cinema.

22. Anton Pavlovich Chekhov among relatives and friends in his courtyard, 1890

A group of eleven people, including men, women, and a boy in a uniform, pose outside a rustic building under a trellis. Most are dressed in late 19th-century clothing and appear relaxed and somber.
klimbim

This photo was taken in the courtyard of his house on Sadovo-Kudrinskaya Street.

23. Tennis players in 1890

Seven men in vintage clothing pose with early tennis rackets and bats in front of a stone wall. Four are standing, three are seated, and all have mustaches and hats, giving a historical sports team appearance.
marinamaral

Those tennis rackets look less than optimal for a game of tennis.

24. Nikola Tesla, 1890s

A man in a dark suit with a mustache sits on a chair, holding a glowing round object in his hand and resting his head on his other hand, looking thoughtfully at the camera. The background is dark.
lorenzo-folli

This photo was taken in his New York lab.

25. Delivering bananas to New York, late 1890s

A busy early 20th-century port scene with people unloading goods, including bananas, from ships. Horse-drawn wagons, crates, and city buildings fill the bustling, colorful dock area.
marinamaral

This photo took 20 days to colorize.

Want to see more vintage 1800s content?

Check out these 20 Colorized Photos From The 1800s, or take a look at 19 Photos of Real Samurai from the 1800s. Finally, if you want to take a look at old saloons from the west, check out 23 Vintage Photos of Old Wild West Saloons.

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