Close menu

35 Vintage Photos From The Early 1880s

Vintage Photos History May 29, 2025

Last Updated on May 29, 2025 by Matt Staff

Take a step back in time to the dawn of the electric age. This was a time when many kerosene lamps continued to flicker alongside newly strung telegraph wires and also locomotives that were stitching the continent together with steam. This collection of 35 vintage photos dating back to the early 1880s captures the time in vivid clarity.

1. An old family gathering by a rowboat in Norway in the early 1880s

A small rowboat with two people and a load of hay is docked on a rocky lakeshore, with steep, rugged mountains rising in the background under a cloudy sky.
thenorwegianblues

2. A picture of a young woman in the Victorian era

Sepia-toned portrait of a young woman in a high-collared, buttoned dress holding a closed umbrella, standing beside a leafy vine and ornate patterned wall, with her hair neatly pinned back.
gagator43

3. Kendall Green Bicycle Club, 1884

A group of people in vintage attire ride tall, old-fashioned bicycles in a line on a sidewalk beside ornate Victorian-style houses.
reneski

4. The Sloane Family of Elberon, New Jersey, 1884

A sepia photo of eight people—five girls, two women, and one man—posing outdoors on a porch. Some hold tennis rackets. A small dog sits in front of them. All wear late 19th-century clothing and hats.
diosmioman63

5. Phillips Exeter Baseball Team, 1881

A vintage black-and-white photo shows nine young men in striped uniforms labeled "PEA," posing on stone steps in front of a brick building. Some sit, others stand, and one man leans against the door frame.
marshmelloknight

6. Crawford Market of Mumbai, India in 1881

Historic street scene with people walking, horse-drawn carts, ox carts, and tram tracks. Colonial-style buildings and a tall clock tower are visible in the background. The image has a sepia tone.
tonetimesofold

7. Horses cart away the snow from a Manhattan Street in 1881

Black-and-white photo of people shoveling snow into horse-drawn carts on a city street lined with tall, old-fashioned buildings after a heavy snowfall.
deleeted

8. People walking on the Pont Alexandre III, Paris, 1882

A black-and-white photo shows ornate street lamps, crowds of people, and elaborate sculptures on the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris, with detailed architectural elements visible in the background.
goodgriefwhatsnext

9. A portrait of a child in 1882

Sepia-toned vintage photograph of a young child with curly hair, dressed in a ruffled white dress and checkered stockings, standing next to a patterned upholstered piece of furniture.
backgroundtangerine4

10. Someone’s great grand-uncle who was born in 1883

Black-and-white portrait of an older man with light hair and a mustache, wearing a collared shirt and a textured cardigan, looking slightly to the side with a serious expression.
anonymous

11. Someone’s great-grandfather Engelbert who was born in Romania in 1883

Black and white portrait of an older man with wavy, light-colored hair, wearing a suit and bow tie, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
deleted

12. Those eyes have seemingly seen some hard living times in the early 1880s

A young person with parted dark hair, wearing a traditional outfit with buttons and earrings, looks directly at the camera against a plain dark background.
deleted

13. Constructing the left hand of the Statue of Liberty in 1883

Several men work on and around a large wooden framework forming the hand of a statue, inside a workshop. Scaffolding and tools are visible, and some men wear suits and hats while overseeing the construction.
iwishiwasbailey

14. This kid’s got a stern look and then some, circa 1883

A young boy with light hair, dressed in a dark buttoned suit with a large white collar, sits on a wooden table with one leg dangling down and a serious expression on his face. The photo is black-and-white and vintage.
eam2468

15. An old man outside of his cottage in Finland in 1883

An elderly person in traditional clothing stands in front of a rustic log cabin with a dirt yard, chopped wood, and hanging cloths visible. The scene appears old and weathered, evoking a historical or rural setting.
silkyclothingisbest

16. A bicycle meet all the way back in 1883

A group of men in vintage attire stand outdoors, each holding a large-wheeled penny-farthing bicycle. Trees and a wooden fence are visible behind them. The text reads "Bicycle Meet Thanksgiving 1883.
drbitterlemon

17. A tender moment captured back in 1883

Two young men in old-fashioned attire sit close together, one sitting on the other's lap with an arm around his shoulder, posing for a sepia-toned vintage studio portrait.
goodgriefwhatsnext

18. This kid’s all confidence, and at that early of an age too

A young boy in a vintage sailor-style outfit leans against a dark upholstered chair, looking slightly to the side with a calm expression. The photo is black and white and appears to be from the early 20th century.
deleted

19. Someone’s great grandmother back in the early 1880s

A person with blue eyes and light skin smiles gently while wearing a colorful, patterned hat and a green scarf. The background is plain and dark, bringing focus to their expressive face and traditional attire.
plzemby

20. Someone’s great great grandfather Clemet Gunderson, circa 1883

An older person with weathered skin, gray hair, and a beard looks directly at the camera, wearing a thick fur-lined hat and coat against a snowy, pale background.
plzemby

21. Charles Moses Strauss, the first Jewish mayor of Tucson, Arizona territory pictured back in 1883

A black-and-white vintage photo shows an older man and a young boy, both wearing hats and holding rifles, standing side by side in front of a decorative backdrop. The man has a beard and a bandolier around his waist.
deleted

22. Riding a penny farthing bike down the Capitol stairs in the early 1880s

A man rides a penny-farthing bicycle down the steps of a large classical building, while another man with a bicycle stands at the top of the stairs. The scene appears to be from the late 19th or early 20th century.
slowmovingsloth

23. Enjoying a wonderful feast around the campfire in the Maine of the early 1880s

A group of women and men in Victorian-era clothing sit and stand around an outdoor fire, roasting food and cooking on a stone pit surrounded by trees and foliage.
jocke75

24. Lawrence Alma Tadema in the early 1880s

A man with a beard stands beside a fireplace in an ornate, cluttered Victorian-era room with framed artwork, a sculpted bust, and various decorative objects. An easel and a cozy chair are also visible.
deleted

25. Oldriev and his new tricycle in 1882

A person sits on an old-fashioned, large-wheeled tricycle with oversized front wheel spokes, riding on a dirt path in a rural area with two houses in the background.
earthmoonsun

26. Construction of the distribution lines from the Pearl Street Edison Plant, circa 1882

A black and white photo shows a man in a bowler hat standing inside an underground tunnel, emerging through a circular opening amid brickwork, with cables or tracks running through the trench.
ohineedascreenname

27. A group picture with Friedrich Nietzsche, Paul Rée, and Lou Andreas-Salomé

Three people in old-fashioned clothing pose for a black-and-white photo; one woman sits in a wooden cart holding a stick, while two men stand beside her, one holding the cart's handle.
deleted

28. Jesse James with Robert Ford in the early 1880s

Two men in 19th-century clothing sit side by side on wooden chairs, looking at the camera. The sepia-toned photo shows both men with serious expressions and wearing jackets, vests, and collared shirts.
viceadmiralobvious

29. Oscar Wilde holding it down with the iconic fit back in the 1880s

A person with shoulder-length hair wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a cape, and a large bow tie poses for a vintage portrait, looking slightly to the side.
christy-brown

30. Central Park, New York, circa 1882

A vintage black-and-white photo of eight women and two men posing outdoors by a tennis net, holding rackets and two guitars, dressed in Victorian-era clothing with hats and long dresses.
Screenshot

31. Albert Einstein at the young age of 3-years-old

A young child with short, dark hair and a serious expression sits on an ornate wooden chair, wearing a dark outfit with a large collar and buttons in this vintage black-and-white photograph.
deleted

32. Theodore Roosevelt in 1881

A young man with styled hair and thick sideburns wears a suit, vest, and tie. The black-and-white portrait has a vintage, late 19th-century appearance. The man has a serious, calm expression.
ludovicospecs

33. U.S. President Chester Alan Arthur in 1882

A black-and-white portrait of a man with thick sideburns, a mustache, and a formal suit with a bow tie, facing slightly to the left against a plain background.
deleted

34. Swedish writer, August Strindberg in 1882

Black-and-white portrait of a young man with wavy hair and a mustache, wearing a dark suit and tie, looking slightly to the side with a serious expression.
deleted

35. A stagecoach crossing a bridge in Silverton, Colorado in 1882

A stagecoach pulled by four horses crosses a wooden bridge made of logs and beams, set in a rugged, forested mountainous landscape.
deleted

Explore more vintage content:

Zoom forward in time with 35 Vintage Photos Of The Early 1890s. Then, take a step yet again, way back in time with 44 Photos That Bring The 1860s To Life. Lastly, you can experience one more time capsule with 55 Photos That Bring The 1850s To Life.

Tags:

About Author

You May Also Like

Split image: Left shows a silver sports car driving on a road with blurred trees in the background. Right shows two angles of a red sports car, front and rear, against a white garage backdrop.
Nostalgia All History Lifestyle Technology
17 Vintage Cars That Were Unbelievably Cool in the 80s
Left: A person sits on an outdoor basketball court holding a sneaker. They wear a black and red outfit. Right: The same person poses indoors holding an umbrella and pointing. The room has a bed, posters, and a stereo.
Sports History
18 Timelessly Iconic Photos of Michael Jordan