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Fascinating Historical Photos Of Boston At The Beginning Of 20th Century

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Boston is the most populous and capital of Massachusetts, founded in 1630 by English Puritans. Boston was the transportation hub for England with its network of railroads in the 1800s. By 1820 the population of Boston was about 43,000. The arrival of immigrants from Ireland during the Great Hunger and then from Italy, Germany, and Poland later in the century, fundamentally changed Boston’s human makeup and political leanings. By the 1840s, Boston had outgrown its physical size, and new land was added. The Great Boston Fire of 1872 destroyed 776 buildings across 65 acres of land, totaling $60 million in damage. In the late 19th century, Chinese immigrants came to Boston. In the early 20th century, Boston continued to thrive, but eventually entered a period of decline, as older factories were abandoned and people migrated away from the downtown. However, in the late 20th century, the economy boomed again and shifted to hi-tech industries and tourism.

Here below are some old photos of Boston capturing streets, cityscapes, and everyday life at the beginning of the 20th century. Vote your favorites, and don’t forget to share.

#1 Tremont Street looking south, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1906

Tremont Street looking south, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1906

8 Points
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#2 April 30, 1908. The Charles River in Boston, April 1908

April 30, 1908. The Charles River in Boston, April 1908

6 Points
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#5 Washington Street, Boston, 1906

Washington Street, Boston, 1906

5 Points
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#8 Old State House front from Court Street, Boston, 1906

Old State House front from Court Street, Boston, 1906

4 Points
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#9 Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, Massachusetts, 1905

Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, Massachusetts, 1905

4 Points
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#10 State House, Boston, 1904

State House, Boston, 1904

4 Points
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#15 Old South Meeting House & Old South Building, Boston, 1905

Old South Meeting House & Old South Building, Boston, 1905

4 Points
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#20 Yard and tracks, South Terminal Station, Boston, 1904

Yard and tracks, South Terminal Station, Boston, 1904

4 Points
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#21 Faneuil Hall, Boston, 1903

Faneuil Hall, Boston, 1903

4 Points
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#22 Old State House from Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 1906

Old State House from Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 1906

3 Points
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#24 Copley Square and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1906

Copley Square and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1906

3 Points
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#25 Mechanics Hall, Huntington Avenue, 1906. It was demolished in 1959 to make way for Prudential Center

Mechanics Hall, Huntington Avenue, 1906. It was demolished in 1959 to make way for Prudential Center

3 Points
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#26 Looking east, Boston, showing Boston Harbor and, at lower left, historic Faneuil Hall, 1906

Looking east, Boston, showing Boston Harbor and, at lower left, historic Faneuil Hall, 1906

3 Points
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#27 Boston, Massachusetts, 1906. Back Bay from the State House dome.

Boston, Massachusetts, 1906. Back Bay from the State House dome.

3 Points
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#28 London honorables entering Trinity Church (Copley Square), Boston, 1903

London honorables entering Trinity Church (Copley Square), Boston, 1903

3 Points
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#30 Courthouse, Pemberton Square, Boston, 1906

Courthouse, Pemberton Square, Boston, 1906

3 Points
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#35 Tremont Temple, Boston, 1900

Tremont Temple, Boston, 1900

3 Points
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#38 Truant hanging around boats in the harbor during school hours, Boston, 1909

Truant hanging around boats in the harbor during school hours, Boston, 1909

3 Points
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#40 Tremont Street, Boston, 1906

Tremont Street, Boston, 1906

3 Points
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#41 Old Corner Bookstore, first brick building in Boston, 1900

Old Corner Bookstore, first brick building in Boston, 1900

3 Points
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#44 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rogers Building, Boston, 1901

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rogers Building, Boston, 1901

2 Points
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#45 Boston post office, Boston, 1900

Boston post office, Boston, 1900

2 Points
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#47 Lafayette Mall, Masonic Temple and Hotel Touraine, Boston, 1906

Lafayette Mall, Masonic Temple and Hotel Touraine, Boston, 1906

1 Point
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#50 Boylston Street, Boston, 1906

Boylston Street, Boston, 1906

1 Point
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#51 Battleship U.S.S. Kearsarge from astern, Boston, 1906

Battleship U.S.S. Kearsarge from astern, Boston, 1906

1 Point
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#53 Hotel Vendome, Dartmouth Street and Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, 1900

Hotel Vendome, Dartmouth Street and Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, 1900

1 Point
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#55 London Ancients and Honorables leaving Rowe’s wharf on steamer Nantasket for harbor trip, Boston, 1904

London Ancients and Honorables leaving Rowe's wharf on steamer Nantasket for harbor trip, Boston, 1904

1 Point
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#59 Boston, Massachusetts, from East Boston across Inner Harbor, 1906

Boston, Massachusetts, from East Boston across Inner Harbor, 1906

1 Point
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#60 Fishing schooner at ‘T’ wharf, Boston, 1903

Fishing schooner at 'T' wharf, Boston, 1903

1 Point
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#65 West Boston Bridge, Boston, 1908

West Boston Bridge, Boston, 1908

1 Point
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#70 Boston Nationals (Braves) manager Fred Lake does it the hard way, April 21, 1910

Boston Nationals (Braves) manager Fred Lake does it the hard way, April 21, 1910

1 Point
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#71 Boy selling fish from a basket in Boston street market, October 1909

Boy selling fish from a basket in Boston street market, October 1909

1 Point
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#74 Sunday 5 a.m. Newsies starting out. Boston, Massachusetts, 1909

Sunday 5 a.m. Newsies starting out. Boston, Massachusetts, 1909

1 Point
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#75 Board of Trade, Broad Street, Boston, 1906

Board of Trade, Broad Street, Boston, 1906

0 Points
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#76 Boston Yacht Club — Marblehead, Massachusetts, 1906

Boston Yacht Club -- Marblehead, Massachusetts, 1906

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#78 Beacon Street at Bowdoin, Ward 6, Boston, Massachusetts, 1906

Beacon Street at Bowdoin, Ward 6, Boston, Massachusetts, 1906

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#80 Maverick Square and tunnel entrance, Boston, 1906

Maverick Square and tunnel entrance, Boston, 1906

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#85 Navy Yard docks and Charles River from Charlestown, Boston, 1906

Navy Yard docks and Charles River from Charlestown, Boston, 1906

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#87 Women at work in an unidentified laundry, possibly in Boston, 1905

Women at work in an unidentified laundry, possibly in Boston, 1905

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#88 Immigrant children learning to play on the roof garden of the Washington School in Boston, 1909

Immigrant children learning to play on the roof garden of the Washington School in Boston, 1909

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Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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