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Spectacular Old Historical Photos Of Buffalo, New York At The Beginning of 20th Century

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Buffalo is the second-biggest city in New York State with so many architectural treasures, including historic buildings, churches, and mansions. The Buffalo area was inhabited before the 17th century by the Native American Iroquois tribe. Buffalo grew significantly in the 19th and 20th centuries as a result of the Erie Canal, railroads, and Lake Erie. Automobile, steel, Iron, and meat-packing plants were the primary industries during the 20th century. Buffalo was greatly affected by the great depression, and unemployment increased rapidly. The population of Buffalo was over a half-million at its peak and declined by up to 50% as the industries began to shut down, and people left the Rust Belt for the employment opportunities of the South and West. Erie County has lost population in every census year since 1970.

Here below, we have compiled a list of old Buffalo, NY photos that show streets, landmarks, and everyday life of Buffalo in the 1900s.

#1 William McKinley monument, Niagara Square, Buffalo, New York, circa 1911

William McKinley monument, Niagara Square, Buffalo, New York, circa 1911

20 Points
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#2 Labor Day parade, Main Street, Hotel Iroquois, Buffalo, 1900

Labor Day parade, Main Street, Hotel Iroquois, Buffalo, 1900

20 Points
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#3 Post Office, Ellicott Street, Buffalo, New York, circa 1910

Post Office, Ellicott Street, Buffalo, New York, circa 1910

19 Points
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#4 Ellicott Square Building, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

Ellicott Square Building, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

18 Points
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#5 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, New York, circa 1911

Lafayette Square, Buffalo, New York, circa 1911

17 Points
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#7 Great Northern elevator and shipping, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

Great Northern elevator and shipping, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

16 Points
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#8 Buffalo River and elevators, foot of Main Street, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

Buffalo River and elevators, foot of Main Street, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

16 Points
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#10 The merchants of Buffalo, aside from making that fine city a haven for the herniated, circa 1900

The merchants of Buffalo, aside from making that fine city a haven for the herniated, circa 1900

15 Points
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#11 Landmarks on view include the Buffalo Savings Bank dome and Hengerer’s department store, Buffalo, New York, circa 1904

Landmarks on view include the Buffalo Savings Bank dome and Hengerer's department store, Buffalo, New York, circa 1904

14 Points
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#12 The Buffalo River, city ship canal and flour mill elevators circa 1911

The Buffalo River, city ship canal and flour mill elevators circa 1911

14 Points
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#15 Washburn-Crosby Co. flour mills, Buffalo, New York, circa 1910

Washburn-Crosby Co. flour mills, Buffalo, New York, circa 1910

13 Points
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#16 Tifft House, Main Street, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

Tifft House, Main Street, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

12 Points
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#17 St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Buffalo, New York ,1900

St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Buffalo, New York ,1900

11 Points
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#19 Shelton Square, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Prudential Building, Erie County Savings Bank, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

Shelton Square, and St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Prudential Building, Erie County Savings Bank, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

11 Points
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#20 Hotel Iroquois, Buffalo, New York, circa 1905

Hotel Iroquois, Buffalo, New York, circa 1905

11 Points
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#21 Hulett machine unloading ore at Buffalo, N.Y. Circa 1908

Hulett machine unloading ore at Buffalo, N.Y. Circa 1908

10 Points
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#22 McKinley Monument, Niagara Square, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

McKinley Monument, Niagara Square, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

9 Points
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#23 Looking up Main Street. Steamer North Land at Long Wharf, Buffalo, New York, circa 1905

Looking up Main Street. Steamer North Land at Long Wharf, Buffalo, New York, circa 1905

9 Points
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#24 Eastern elevator, Buffalo, New York.” Ship: The Frank L. Vance.

Eastern elevator, Buffalo, New York." Ship: The Frank L. Vance.

9 Points
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#25 Erie County Savings Bank, Niagara Street, Bustling Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

Erie County Savings Bank, Niagara Street, Bustling Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

9 Points
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#26 Erie County Savings Bank, Niagara Street. Buffalo, New York, circa 1904

Erie County Savings Bank, Niagara Street. Buffalo, New York, circa 1904

9 Points
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#29 The ectoplasmic pedestrians are out in force, Hotel Iroquois, Buffalo, 1900

The ectoplasmic pedestrians are out in force, Hotel Iroquois, Buffalo, 1900

8 Points
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#30 Labor Day parade, Main Street, Buffalo, N.Y., 1900

Labor Day parade, Main Street, Buffalo, N.Y., 1900

8 Points
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#31 Labor Day parade crowd, Main Street, Buffalo, New York, 1900

Labor Day parade crowd, Main Street, Buffalo, New York, 1900

8 Points
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#32 Canal harbor and elevators, Buffalo, New York, circa 1910

Canal harbor and elevators, Buffalo, New York, circa 1910

8 Points
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#33 Unloading ore from whaleback carrier, Buffalo, New York, circa 1901

Unloading ore from whaleback carrier, Buffalo, New York, circa 1901

8 Points
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#34 An old-timer at C.T.T. elevator, Buffalo, N.Y., circa 1900

An old-timer at C.T.T. elevator, Buffalo, N.Y., circa 1900

8 Points
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#35 A bird’s-eye view of Buffalo, Circa 1905

A bird's-eye view of Buffalo, Circa 1905

7 Points
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#37 St. Paul’s Cathedral, Episcopal, Buffalo, New York, circa 1904

St. Paul's Cathedral, Episcopal, Buffalo, New York, circa 1904

7 Points
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#38 Jack-Knife Bridge, City Ship Canal, foot of Michigan Street. Buffalo, New York, circa 1905

Jack-Knife Bridge, City Ship Canal, foot of Michigan Street. Buffalo, New York, circa 1905

7 Points
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#39 Student at vocational school in Buffalo, New York. February 1910.

Student at vocational school in Buffalo, New York. February 1910.

7 Points
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#40 Thornberger hoist unloading ore at Lackawanna docks, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

Thornberger hoist unloading ore at Lackawanna docks, Buffalo, New York, circa 1900

6 Points
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#42 Chicago River elevators at Chicago, Illinois, September 1, 1900

Chicago River elevators at Chicago, Illinois, September 1, 1900

5 Points
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#43 Home of the Palia family, 260 Terrace Street, Buffalo, New York, February 1910

Home of the Palia family, 260 Terrace Street, Buffalo, New York, February 1910

5 Points
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#45 Unloading ore from Hulett machine, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

Unloading ore from Hulett machine, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

4 Points
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#46 Brown electric hoist unloading ore carrier, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

Brown electric hoist unloading ore carrier, Buffalo, New York, circa 1908

4 Points
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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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13 Comments

  1. If I had a Time Machine, this is the era I’d love to check out. The Pan Am expo, a bustling downtown, and the harbor would be fascinating to explore. I’d just make sure I have my vaccines before going. The last thing I’d need is the flu or TB.

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