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35 Vintage Photos Of The Late 1880s

Vintage Photos History May 30, 2025

Last Updated on May 30, 2025 by Matt Staff

The late 1880s marked a turning point in history. It was a period of rapid industrial progress, social change, and remarkable invention. Through the lens of early photography, we catch rare and intimate glimpses of life as it was more than a century ago. These 35 vintage photos of the late 1880s offer a window into a different world, capturing everything from everyday routines and street scenes to fashion trends and the faces of people long gone but not forgotten.

Each image tells a story of resilience, curiosity, and a world on the cusp of the modern age. You’ll see the grit of coal miners, the elegance of Victorian fashion, and the innocence of childhood. These photographs aren’t just relics; they are time machines, offering a powerful connection to the past. Here are 35 vintage photos from the late 1880s.

1. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, exploring the completed Eiffel Tower with a friend, 1889

Two men in suits and top hats stand on a metal spiral staircase and platform, high above the ground, near the top of a large iron structure with a hazy cityscape in the background.
majoodeh

2. A stagecoach crossing a bridge in Silverton, Colorado, 1889

A black and white photo of a horse-drawn stagecoach crossing a log bridge over a deep ravine, surrounded by dense trees and rugged terrain.
soft_ambassador_7848

3. Birtha Benz, the wife of German automotive pioneer Karl Benz, on a joyride, 1888

A woman in vintage clothing sits on an early motor vehicle, while two men in caps and period attire assist by pushing from behind. The scene appears to be set in front of old wooden and stone buildings.
ritarudzinsky

4. Richard Mansfield on a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde play poster in 1887

A vintage sepia photo shows a man in Victorian attire holding a mannequin head, looking upward dramatically. Text reads: "Mr. Richard Mansfield as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Coventry, 132 Regent Street, London.
jonkun

5. Fridtjof Nansen, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, 1887

A scientist sits at a cluttered laboratory desk, examining something under a microscope. Shelves lined with glass bottles and equipment fill the background; sunlight streams through a window beside him.
strange-mouse-8710

6. Old-school lumberjacks cutting down a massive tree, 1889

Five men pose with a giant felled redwood tree in a forest. Four stand on planks holding a large saw, while one stands on the ground amid wood debris. The tree trunk is partially cut.
jack-of-all-trades

7. Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller, 1887

Two women in vintage clothing sit outdoors on a chair by a wooden trellis. One woman holds a doll on her lap while both look in the same direction. The photo has an old-fashioned, sepia tone.
gregornot

8. A portrait of two little girls in 1887

Two young children in vintage winter clothing and bonnets stand side by side, holding hands and smiling. The sepia-toned photograph features a snowy, nostalgic atmosphere.
senorphone1

9. A woman dressed as a bat for a costume party, 1887

A woman in a Victorian-era dress poses with a black cape extended like bat wings and wears headband bat ears. The photo is sepia-toned with a studio backdrop and the text “F. Chromy KAADEN.”
honeypup

10. Engineers John Fowler and Benjamin Baker, 1887

Three men demonstrate a bridge principle: two sit holding sticks supporting weights, while a central man sits between them, held up by the sticks. A diagram of a truss bridge is displayed behind them on a wooden wall.
userdeleted

They were designers of the Firth of Forth Bridge, and they are demonstrating how a cantilever bridge works with the help of Japanese engineer Kaichi Watanabe, 1887

11. A photograph of Good Eagle, taken in London, 1887

A Native American man with long hair, wearing traditional clothing, a fur vest, necklaces, and a feather in his hair, faces forward with a neutral expression against a plain background.
eaglemaxie

12. Three young men from the Blackfoot tribe, 1887

Three young Indigenous boys sit side by side, wearing heavy, patterned blankets and coats. They face the camera with serious expressions against a blurred, neutral backdrop.
f-o-c-u-s-

13. Susanna Salter, the first female Mayor in America, 1887

A sepia-toned portrait of a woman in an elegant, embroidered dress with a floral decoration at her waist, seated on a dark chair, looking directly at the camera with a calm expression.
dwingling_odds

14. Annie Oakley in her tent, 1887

Sepia photo of a woman sitting in front of a tent labeled “Annie Oakley.” She is surrounded by props, including rifles, baskets, and a small fence. The scene appears to be from a historical campsite or Wild West show.
eaglemaxie

15. Mahatma Gandhi as a law student, 1887

A young man with neatly combed hair, wearing a suit jacket, white shirt, and a bow tie, poses for a formal black and white portrait photograph.
katica123

16. Laying the foundation of the Eiffel Tower, 1887

Historic black-and-white photo of several stone buildings under construction, with workers and men in period clothing standing around, scattered piles of stones, and a barren landscape in the background.
ua-stena

17. A steelworker hanging on the Eiffel Tower, 1889

A worker in safety gear stands on a steel beam high above Paris, with one arm raised and the city and river far below, demonstrating a daring pose during the construction or maintenance of the Eiffel Tower.
userdeleted

18. Sumo wrestling in Yokohama, Japan, 1887

Vintage photo of a sumo wrestling match in an outdoor ring, with two wrestlers facing off, surrounded by seated spectators and a shaded canopy overhead.
red_devil1987

19. Railroad baseball team, Portland, OR, 1887

A group of men in old-fashioned attire pose outdoors in front of a wooden building. Many wear hats and shirts with railroad company names and logos, and some hold props, including a sign reading "The Great Rock Island Route.
userdeleted

20. Mulberry Street, NYC, 1887

Historic black and white photo of men in an urban alley with laundry hanging overhead. Some men stand or sit on steps, while others lean out of windows, capturing daily life in a crowded neighborhood.
world-tight

21. Buffalo Bill Cody, 1887

Black-and-white portrait of a man with a mustache and long hair, wearing a suit and a wide-brimmed hat, seated in an ornate chair. The text at the bottom reads "Col. W.F. Cody. 'Buffalo Bill.'
langator

22. The mascot of the Royal Welch Fusiliers posing with his handler, Ireland, 1887

A young Royal Welsh Fusilier in uniform sits on grass beside a white goat; in the background, children are gathered in a group with a building and tall chimney visible in the distance.
star_ship_55

23. A cowboy looking over his herd, Sturgis, Dakota Territory, 1888

A cowboy wearing a hat and chaps sits on a brown horse in a grassy field, holding the reins. Trees and a fence are visible in the background, with another horse grazing at a distance.
dwdrum

24. Annie Oakley showing off a reverse trick shot in 1888

A woman in a long dress and wide-brimmed hat stands outdoors, holding a rifle over her shoulder and looking into a handheld mirror, with a rustic fence and foliage in the background.
sheilawholehearted

25. New York City after a snowstorm, 1888

A black-and-white photo shows a snow-covered city street lined with tall buildings. Numerous overhead wires crisscross above. A group of people stands in the street, surrounded by deep snowbanks, under a cloudy sky.
statman13

26. Another view of the 1888 Blizzard of NYC

A person stands in a narrow path between tall walls of snow on a city street, with footprints visible on the ground and large buildings lining both sides.
userdeleted

27. Gondolas and a fire boat in Machinery Hall at the 1888 Cincinnati Expo

Historic black-and-white photo of boats, including one labeled "FIRE BOAT," navigating an indoor canal beneath arched beams and banners inside a large industrial-style building. People stand on boats and along the walkway.
lepke2011

28. “My Great-Grandfather Edmund Walton, taken in Minneapolis, 1887”

A vintage black-and-white photo of a person wearing a wide-brimmed hat, shirt, pants, and boots, holding a rifle and leaning forward. The person has a holstered pistol on their belt. The background is rustic and outdoorsy.
elevencharles

29. Two New Zealanders and their new dog, 1888

Two men in hats sit on chairs facing the camera with a large dog between them. The men wear jackets and mustaches, and the dog is looking forward. The background includes a curtain and a wooden cabinet or mirror.
mistermajik2000

30. Boys playing in the street, Manhattan, 1888

Historic black-and-white photo of a narrow city alley with a group of men and boys standing and facing the camera, flanked by brick buildings and trash bins, with fire escapes visible above.
ge0rgecantstandya

31. People ice skating, 1887

A vintage black-and-white photo shows people ice skating on a snowy field surrounded by tall trees and historic buildings in the background. Most skaters wear long coats, dresses, and hats, reflecting old-fashioned winter attire.
aevigoda76

32. The original Benz patent-motorwagen, late 1880s

A black and white photo of an early three-wheeled motor vehicle with a simple, open design, thin wheels, and a cushioned seat. The vehicle is on a dirt road with trees and buildings in the background.
strange-mouse-8710

33. “My 4x great-grandparents with their children, April 1887”

A black and white photo of six people, including children and adults, standing in front of a rustic wooden house surrounded by trees and overgrown plants. The setting appears to be rural and historic.
theupcomingemperor

34. Walt Whitman, 1887

An elderly man with a long white beard and mustache, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a dark coat, looks kindly at the camera against a plain dark background.
reporter_at_large

35. A young boy and his dog, 1889

A young boy in a dark coat stands holding a hat beside a dog in front of a rustic log cabin with a grass-covered roof. A wooden wagon is partially visible on the left. The setting appears old-fashioned and rural.
worldhub995

Want to see more 19th-century content?

Check out 20 Colorized Photos From The 1800s, or take a look at 19 Photos of Real Samurai from the 1800s. Finally, if you want to see explorers from the past, take a look at 20 Vintage Photos of Famous Explorers (1800s-1900s).

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