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.
![North Station [Union Station], Boston, 1905](https://www.bygonely.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Old_Boston_1900s_37.jpg)
Seeing the actual Back Bay is weird
Custom House before the tower
The prevalence of hats in photos from this era always amazes me. Does anyone not wear a hat?
In those days, I think it was extremely inappropriate to go in public without a hat. Today, it’s like not wearing pants in public.
Not a cellphone in sight!
Only time travelers had cellphones.
This is insanely cool
Many people don’t realize how good cameras were back then. Due to the fact that the world was still black and white, they weren’t crippled by the need to interpolate colors.