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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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#8 The old French Market. New Orleans circa 1890s.

The old French Market. New Orleans circa 1890s.

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

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

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

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

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#12 A loaded cotton steamer at New Orleans, 1897.

A loaded cotton steamer at New Orleans, 1897.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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#25 Sisters of the Holy Family, New Orleans, 1899.

Sisters of the Holy Family, New Orleans, 1899.

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

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#26 Rue Royale, New Orleans, 1899.

Rue Royale, New Orleans, 1899.

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

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#27 Plantation House, New Orleans, 1899.

Plantation House, New Orleans, 1899.

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

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

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

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

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Written by Aung Budhh

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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