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Amazing Historic Photos of New Orleans from the Late-19th Century

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New Orleans incorporated into the United States in 1803, when the French sold Louisiana for a mere $15 million. The population of New Orleans was around 8,000, consisting of 4,000 whites and 2,700 enslaved, and about 1,300 free persons of color. During the first half of the 19th century, New Orleans was the wealthiest city and third-largest city. It was the golden era for the city, the arrival of steamboats skyrocketed the local trade and commerce. By 1840 the city was rated the fourth port in the world.

During the American Civil War, New Orleans was the largest city in the Confederacy, but it was only a year until Union troops captured without a battle in the city itself. During the Reconstruction period, New Orleans was within the Fifth Military District of the United States. After the Reconstruction era, the city defaulted and dropped from 3rd to 12th place in national rank. In the late-19th century, New Orleans made limited, though steady progress, but the population increased to 287,104.

Here below are some amazing historical photos of New Orleans from the late 19th century. Be sure to check, what New Orleans looked like in the 1900s.

#1 St. Charles Hotel from Canal Street. New Orleans circa 1890.

St. Charles Hotel from Canal Street. New Orleans circa 1890.

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#2 The old French Market, New Orleans, 1890s.

The old French Market, New Orleans, 1890s.

By the 1890's the French Quarter was known as Little Palermo, with the recent immigration of Sicilians to New Orleans. There was a turf war between the Provenzano and Matranga gangs, leading to the killing of Chief of Police David Hennessy. A not guilty verdict led to 11 of the 19 indicted being lynched. The national newspapers first used the word Mafia to cover the big story back then.

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#3 Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, 1895.

Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, 1895.

Metairie Cemetery was a popular garden spot. Many notables are entombed at Metairie Cemetery, including baseball Hall of Famer Mel Ott, trumpeter Al Hirt, and bandleader Louis Prima.

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#4 Street in New Orleans near Cathedral of St. Louis, 1890.

Street in New Orleans near Cathedral of St. Louis, 1890.

Since the Cathedral faces the Mississippi across (Andrew) Jackson Square, you are seeing the back of it. The street that dead-ends behind the Cathedral is Orleans Street.

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#5 Cotton on the levee at New Orleans, along the Mississippi River, 1890

Cotton on the levee at New Orleans, along the Mississippi River, 1890

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#6 The French Quarter, New Orleans, 1890s.

The French Quarter, New Orleans, 1890s.

Its carbon arc lamps lighting the way to an electrified future

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#7 227 Royal Street in the French Quarter, New Orleans, 1890s.

227 Royal Street in the French Quarter, New Orleans, 1890s.

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#9 Street in the French Quarter, New Orleans circa 1880s-1890s.

Street in the French Quarter, New Orleans circa 1880s-1890s.

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#10 The Clay Monument, Canal Street. New Orleans circa 1890.

The Clay Monument, Canal Street. New Orleans circa 1890.

The 1-horsepower horsecar, the ancient carbon-arc lamp suspended from a complicated-looking boom, and much signage.

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#11 Canal Street from the Clay monument. New Orleans in the 1890s.

Canal Street from the Clay monument. New Orleans in the 1890s.

The switch to electric streetcars began in 1894. That would allow for more than a year for changes to be made. They were delivered to New Orleans starting in 1896.

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#13 African-American children sit on the edge of a railroad by a dirt road, in a shantytown on the outskirts of New Orleans, 1880.

African-American children sit on the edge of a railroad by a dirt road, in a shantytown on the outskirts of New Orleans, 1880.

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#14 The docks of New Orleans on the Mississippi, with sugar being unloaded from traditional steam boats, 1880.

The docks of New Orleans on the Mississippi, with sugar being unloaded from traditional steam boats, 1880.

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#15 A group of men sit on weather-beaten wharves between Piety and Desire Streets, New Orleans, August 1881.

A group of men sit on weather-beaten wharves between Piety and Desire Streets, New Orleans, August 1881.

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#16 Horse and Buggy Milk Wagon in New Orleans, 1890s.

Horse and Buggy Milk Wagon in New Orleans, 1890s.

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#17 Red Pageant, Mardi Gras Parade. New Orleans, 1890.

Red Pageant, Mardi Gras Parade. New Orleans, 1890.

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#18 A group of children stand along a carriage track in a cobblestone street in front of French Market. New Orleans, 1895.

A group of children stand along a carriage track in a cobblestone street in front of French Market. New Orleans, 1895.

Horsedrawn carriages travel behind them.

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#19 A view of Canal Street, with trolleys running on overhead lines and horsedrawn carriages. New Orleans, 1895.

A view of Canal Street, with trolleys running on overhead lines and horsedrawn carriages. New Orleans, 1895.

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#20 Charles Street, showing the terraced exterior of Kolb’s Hotel. New Orleans, 1895.

Charles Street, showing the terraced exterior of Kolb's Hotel. New Orleans, 1895.

The streetcars and horsedrawn carriages can be seen in the photo.

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#21 The Mardi Gras parade in Canal Street. New Orleans, 1895.

The Mardi Gras parade in Canal Street. New Orleans, 1895.

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#22 Levee and Steamboat Landing, New Orleans, 1897.

Levee and Steamboat Landing, New Orleans, 1897.

Landing quay for steambots on the Mississippi river.

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#23 A ship in New Orleans carrying bales of cotton circa 1897.

A ship in New Orleans carrying bales of cotton circa 1897.

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#24 Artillery supplies on board the USS New Orleans, a light cruiser of the US Navy that saw action in the Spanish-American war, 1898.

Artillery supplies on board the USS New Orleans, a light cruiser of the US Navy that saw action in the Spanish-American war, 1898.

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#28 The New Orleans home of Madame John Legacy, 1899.

The New Orleans home of Madame John Legacy, 1899.

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#29 Two young boys stood by the side entrance to the Old Beauregard Home in the French Quarter of New Orleans, 1899.

Two young boys stood by the side entrance to the Old Beauregard Home in the French Quarter of New Orleans, 1899.

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#30 An elaborate metal filigree railing adorns the second story of this historical building overlooking the street in New Orleans, 1899.

An elaborate metal filigree railing adorns the second story of this historical building overlooking the street in New Orleans, 1899.

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Written by Aung Budhh

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  3. IT’S AMAZING HOW MANY OF THESE ARE DATED 1899, I’D LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU GOT THOSE DATES? ALSO THE #30 PICTURE IS FROM THE BALCONY OF THE PONTALBA APARTMENTS, BUILT BY BARONESS PONTALBA AS A RESIDENCE. THE ONE ON THE EAST SIDE OF JACKSON SQUARE AND OWNED BY THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, THE ONE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE SQUARE IS OWNED BY THE STATE. THE BOTTOM FLOORS ARE COMMERCIAL THE UPPER FLOORS ARE RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS BUT THE WAITING LIST IS SO LONG YOU SHOULD PUT YOUR CHILDREN’S NAMES ON THE LIST WHEN THEY’RE BORN AND THEY MAY GET IN WHEN THEY RETIRE!!!

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