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25 Vintage Photos Of The Mid-1840s

Vintage Photos History Nostalgia June 5, 2025

Last Updated on June 5, 2025 by Matt Staff

This collection of 25 vintage photos from the mid-1840s tells a story of a bygone era when steam whistles seemed to pierce every dawn and then telegraph clicks stitched coasts together. These 35 vintage photos can tell a vivid story of a bygone era that you’ve never experienced before.

1. Hutchinson Family Singers, 1845

A vintage sepia photograph of ten men in formal 19th-century clothing, sitting closely together on benches. Some men rest their heads on each other's shoulders, creating an intimate, relaxed, and friendly group pose.
twixdreamas

2. A smiling couple from all the way back in the mid-1840s

A vintage sepia photograph shows a woman in a dark dress standing beside a seated man in a suit, both posing formally. The photo is framed with an ornate gold border.
upperhony

3. 78-year-old Andrew Jackson back in 1845

Black and white, scratched daguerreotype showing an elderly man with white hair and sideburns, seated in profile view, wearing a dark coat and white shirt, against a dark background.
deleteed

4. The facial hair here really is on point

Black-and-white vintage portrait of a man with a mustache, wearing a suit, leaning his head on one hand. He sits beside an old-fashioned camera with a book resting on top. Draped backdrop behind him.
robocalypse

5. Someone’s great-grandfather all the way back in 1846

An older man wearing a suit, vest, and bowler hat stands outdoors, smiling slightly. The black-and-white photo appears aged, and the man has a beard and mustache. Trees are faintly visible in the background.
mellowcello

6. Preston, England back in 1846

A sepia-toned historic photograph of a town square with a tall monument in the center, surrounded by old buildings and shops with visible signs, including one for tea and another for hardware.
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7. A group of guy friends posing together back in the mid-1840s

Four men pose for an old sepia photograph; two stand in the back, while two sit in front. One man wears a checkered jacket and hat, the others are in dark suits. Their expressions are serious and thoughtful.
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8. Someone’s great-great-grandpa in 1845

Sepia-toned portrait of an older man with a full white beard and mustache, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a buttoned shirt with a jacket, looking directly at the camera.
anonymous

9. Three little girls out in Berlin in 1845

A historical photograph of three young girls, two seated and one standing behind them, shown side-by-side in black and white (left) and in colorized form (right), all wearing vintage dresses and solemn expressions.
antiphony

10. Those eyes have seen some troubles

A man in 19th-century attire sits beside a table, holding a display case of small portrait photographs. The photo is in a gold-trimmed frame and appears to be an old daguerreotype.
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11. An 1840s dandy with a matching checked pattern coat

A young man with medium-length dark hair sits formally, wearing a patterned suit and cravat. He rests his head on one hand and holds a paper in the other, gazing intently at the camera. A patterned cloth covers the table beside him.
upperphon n y

12. John Quincy Adams back in 1843

An older man with white hair sits in a wooden chair, wearing a dark suit and bow tie, hands clasped with a cloth, next to a small table with books and a lamp in a vintage setting.
apremoi

13. An old sergeant back in Norway in the mid-1840s

A stern-looking man with a bald head and a large, bushy mustache that extends widely to both sides, wearing a double-breasted dark uniform with decorative buttons.
natteulevn

14. This happy-looking crew had their photo taken all the way back in the mid-1840s

A sepia-toned vintage photo of a man sitting, a woman standing behind him with her hand on his shoulder, and a young boy standing beside them, all dressed in formal old-fashioned clothing.
dulthayne123

15. The sculptor John Steven back in the mid-1840s

A man in dark clothing stands beside a large stone bust of a bearded figure on a pedestal. The photo is black and white, with a slightly blurred, vintage appearance.
morningformal

16. This studious looking fellow posed for his photo back in the mid-1840s

A 19th-century man with glasses, sideburns, and brown hair wears a dark coat and cravat, standing with arms crossed against a plain gray background.
glennmelhurts

17. John Francis back in the mid-1840s

A black-and-white portrait of an older man with wild, curly white hair, wearing a dark suit and a serious expression, photographed against a plain background.
infamousleopard213

18. Philander Chase, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, mid-1840s

Black-and-white photo of an older man with a stern expression, wearing a dark coat and a soft, brimless hat. The image has a worn, vintage appearance with visible scratches and marks.
infamousleopard923

19. This shot was taken in France back in the mid-1840s

A vintage sepia photograph of a young woman in a striped dress and a young man in a cap, jacket, and plaid trousers, sitting side by side and facing slightly toward each other.
vaudevillefolly

20. A street scene in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1842

Historic city square with people in vintage clothing, a man reading on a bench, a woman and child walking, ornate buildings, a statue, and a palm plant in the foreground. The scene appears early 20th century.
deletd

21. Gold miners back in the mid-1840s

Four men in old-fashioned work clothes pose at a muddy mining site; two kneel in front holding pans, apparently panning for gold, while two stand behind them. Dirt piles and wooden structures are visible in the background.
anonymous

22. Talk about a sea of top hats, circa mid-1840s

A large crowd gathers outdoors around a raised platform, listening to speakers. People wear 19th-century clothing and hats. Industrial buildings and a tall smokestack are visible in the background.
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23. Just a dad and his little baby back in the mid-1840s

A man with dark hair and a mustache kisses a young child on the cheek while holding them. The child wears a checked dress and looks away. The image is sepia-toned and has a vintage appearance.
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24. A geography lesson in the mid-1840s

A vintage black-and-white photo shows a man with a globe teaching five young girls in dresses. Some girls hold books, and a decorative mirror hangs on the wall behind them.
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25. These kids look just a tad bit possessed

A vintage photograph of two young girls with dark hair in dresses, standing side by side and holding hands. The image has a faded, antique look and is framed by an arched, golden border.
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Explore more vintage content:

The 1840s may have set the stage, but the decades that followed turned whispers of change into thunder. Watch steam power and social shifts pick up speed in 25 Vintage Photos of the Mid-1850s, then see war-weary resilience burst into vivid life with 20 Colorized Photos of the Mid-1860s.

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