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Vintage Photos

20 Colorized Photos From The First Year of the 20th Century (1901)

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A bustling city street scene from the early 1900s shows crowds of people, market stalls with produce, horse-drawn carts, and brick buildings with open windows and balconies in a lively urban neighborhood.

The year 1901 opened the doorway to a new century. It was a year on the edge of enormous change. It was a time when steam powered the world, and horse-drawn carriages still ruled the roads. Cities buzzed with invention, and society stood at the intersection of tradition and progress.

Images from this time were captured in black and white, but color brings that silence to life. With the help of modern colorization techniques, these 20 photographs from 1901 are reborn in vivid detail, offering an intimate look into daily life at the turn of the 20th century. Let’s dive into 20 colorized photos from the first year of the 20th century.

1. Naval academy Midshipmen attending a dinner at their superintendent’s house, 1901

A group of young men in dark uniforms and three women in light dresses pose on the porch and steps of a large, ornate house with columns and a brick facade. The scene appears historical, possibly late 19th or early 20th century.
bwborder/via reddit.com

2. A portrait of Teddy Roosevelt, 1901

A man with short dark hair, a mustache, glasses, and a suit with a vest, dress shirt, and tie, is seen in profile against a background of paneled doors.
color969/via reddit.com

3. President William McKinley, moments before his assassination, Buffalo, September 6, 1901

A large crowd gathers for an outdoor event near a grand, flag-draped stage with red, white, and blue decorations, topped by a golden eagle. Many attendees wear early 20th-century clothing and hats.
mentalaustrian/via reddit.com

4. Silent film actress Maude Fealy, 1901

A young woman with long, wavy hair adorned with flowers gazes downward. She wears a sheer, off-the-shoulder garment and holds a bouquet of assorted flowers, creating a soft, dreamy, vintage portrait.
chroma_gen/via reddit.com

5. Victor Emmanuel, the King of Italy, 1901

A man in an ornate military uniform with medals, a green sash, white gloves, and a feathered hat stands indoors against a red curtain, with ceremonial swords displayed in the background.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

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6. King Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom, 1901

A distinguished older man with a gray beard sits in a dark overcoat, holding a cigar in his right hand, looking confidently at the camera. The background is softly focused and suggests an indoor setting.
jecinci/via reddit.com

7. Wall Street, NYC, 1901

A busy city street scene from the early 20th century with people in suits and hats walking near tall buildings and a large church with a tall spire in the background; a statue stands on the right by a stairway.
baptistepierre/via reddit.com

8. A coal miner and his family sitting outside their house in Castle Gate, Utah, 1901

A vintage, colorized photo of a family of six—two adults and four children—posing in front of a rustic wooden house. One child sits on a rocking horse, and another sits on the father's lap. All wear old-fashioned clothing.
phillippattersonstl/via reddit.com

9. Aureliano de Beruete, a painter and politician, painting in his studio while his family watches, 1901

A vintage room with dark walls, filled with books, plants, and artwork. Two men and one woman pose among ornate furniture; one man stands by an easel, the woman sits, and the other man sits at a desk covered in books and papers.
anamarcorporate/via reddit.com

10. Horse-drawn carriages passing by the Vanderbilt mansion in New York City, 1901

A wide street with horse-drawn carriages and people walking, lined with ornate, gothic-style buildings and street lamps. The scene appears historical, with a cloudy sky overhead.
anamarcorporate/via reddit.com

11. The New Ross Boat Club, Ireland, 1901

Five men in vintage athletic clothing pose for a formal photo; four stand with arms crossed, one sits holding a large trophy. Two more trophies are placed on the floor in front of them.
princemichaaelwilliam/via reddit.com

12. Toronto, Canada, 1901

Historic photo of Paterson Bros. storefront in winter, showing horse-drawn wagons and people on a snowy street; left side in black and white, right side colorized with red bricks and yellow storefront sign.
newsgif/via reddit.com

13. Maude Adams, 1901

A young person with short, wavy brown hair wearing a light-colored coat with a fur collar and a white high-collared blouse, posing in front of a softly blurred blue and gray background.
flexericusrex/via reddit.com

14. Enjoying a cup of tea and Russian shushki, 1901

A woman in a purple dress reclines on a bed with white pillows, holding a cup of tea. On the table are a teapot, pastries, and a Russian newspaper. The room has green patterned tiles on the wall.
planetzerocolor/via reddit.com

15. A young French marching band, preparing to march in a parade, 1901

A group of men in early 20th-century clothing poses on steps, some holding a large French flag labeled “Commune.” Several wear rosettes and sashes. One man has a drum, another holds a dog on a leash. Green window shutters frame the building.
xmarie28/via reddit.com

16. Central Park in New York, 1901

A historic park scene with people strolling and tending to the gardens, featuring a grand stone staircase, statues, and lush greenery under a bright, partly cloudy sky.
anamarcorporate/via reddit.com

17. Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, 1901

A crowded sandy beach scene with people in vintage clothing relaxing, walking, and playing near the shore, with striped tents and a calm, blue sea under a cloudy sky in the background.
anamarcorporate/via reddit.com

18. Mulberry Street in New York, 1901

A bustling city street scene from the early 1900s shows vendors, carts, and crowds of people surrounded by tall brick buildings with balconies and laundry hanging, capturing lively urban daily life.
mantalaustrian/via reddit.com

19. Tugboats returning home to Santos Harbour, 1901

Two vintage steamships float on a calm lake under a cloudy sky. The nearest ship flies a blue flag and Brazilian flag, with mountains and a distant shoreline visible in the background.
henrique3d/via reddit.com

20. Lifeguarding in Brighton Beach, New York, 1901

A vintage lifeguard in a maroon uniform and cap stands on a sandy beach near an American flag. People in Victorian-era clothing and umbrellas walk behind him, with several on a pier extending into the sea. The sky is partly cloudy.
morganmonroe81/via reddit.com

Want to see more colorized content from the early 1900s?

Check out 20 Colorized Photos from the First Decade of the 20th Century (1900-1910), or take a look at 25 Colorized Photos of the Beginning of the 20th Century (1900-1905). Finally, if you want to see photos from the 1920s, check out 15 Colorized Photos That Capture the Wild Side of the 1920s.

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Meet the Writer


Patrick Nichols

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.



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