San Jose is the largest city in Northern California by both population and area. It is known for its innovation, cultural diversity, mild climate, and sunny days. San Jose is one of the wealthiest major cities in the world, with the world’s third-highest GDP per capita and the fifth-most expensive housing market. There is an extensive network of municipal and regional parks. Kelly Park, located along Coyote Creek, houses a zoo, a Japanese garden, and an outdoor museum of restored and replica buildings from early San Jose.
San Jose flourished and developed rapidly in the 1890s. Paul P. Austin became mayor in 1894. The First Unitarian Church, Hall of Records, Associated Charities, Post Office, and several other major infrastructures were also built in the 1890s.
Here are some stunning historical photos that streets, towns, and everyday life of San Jose in the 1890s. Also check, San Jose in the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s.
#1 Willnettie Ranch, San Jose, 1892
#2 Manual Training Room, San Jose State Normal School, San Jose, California, 1892
#3 Students in front of East San Jose School, located on McLaughlin Avenue, East San Jose, 1892
#4 San Jose State Normal School, 1895
#5 San Jose & Santa Clara Street railway car, 1890
#6 San Jose Post Office, 1898
#7 Members of the San Jose State Normal School Tennis Club, 1893
#8 San Jose State Normal School, 1895
#9 Mrs. Winchester’s Bedroom. Winchester Mystery House near San Jose California, 1890s
#10 Interior Hammer and Lewis store, 28 North Market Street, San Jose, 1890s
#11 Trolleys in route on the Alameda between Santa Clara and San Jose, 1890
#12 Chinatown, San Jose, 1899
#13 Plaza and San Jose Post Office, 1898
#14 The New Century block or deSaisset building, corner of 2nd and Santa Clara Streets, San Jose, 1890s
#15 East San Jose School, Adams Street near Alum Rock Avenue, 1891
#16 San Jose City Hall, 1890s
#17 Students on the lawn of San Jose State Normal School, 1895
#18 Postcard of Fruit Canning, San Jose, California, 1890s
#19 Start Sunday School Commission in San Jose in 1894
#20 Lincoln School, San Jose, 1898
#21 House Moving, 8th & Empire Sts., San Jose, 1890s
#22 Court House, day Co. B went away, San Jose, 1898
#23 Alum Rock Park, San Jose, California, 1897
#24 Fredericksburg Brewery employees with mugs of beer, 1895
#25 J. R. Welch Home, San Jose, 1896
#26 San Jose storefronts, 1890s
#27 Chinatown, North Sixth Street, 1897
#28 Fredericksberg Brewery Crew, San Jose, 1895
#29 Children with employees of Fredericksburg Brewery, San Jose, 1895
#30 First Presbyterian Church interior, located at 56 North Second Street, 1891
#31 Willow Glen School, Minnesota & Lincoln Avenue, 1897
#32 Fredericksburg Brewery employees, 1895
#33 Man driving in horse-drawn cart down a street, seen from the front. Likely Evergreen, near San Jose, 1920
#34 Auzerais Building, 1890
#35 Hotel Vendome, San Jose, 1892
#36 City Hall San Jose, 1890s
#37 First Unitarian Church of San Jose, 1895
#38 Post Office, San Jose, 1895
#39 Electric Light Tower from First and Santa Clara Street, 1890
#40 John Balbach, Jr’s carriage trimming and painting shop was located on the northwest corner of Market Street and Pierce Avenue, San Jose, 1896
#41 Hayes-Chynoweth Home, Edenvale, 1890
#42 Hotel Metropole building, Northwest Corner of Market Street and Post Street, 1896
#43 Agnews State Hospital, long shot across field from rear-side, San Jose, 1890
#44 Agnews State Hospital, rear side, with gardener and pedestrians, 1890
#45 Agnews State Hospital, front view up new, Palm tree lined drive, 1890
#46 Welch Children, San Jose, 1896
#47 Real Estate office in San Jose, California, 1890s
#48 Fitzpatrick & Kelley, Blacksmithing and Horsehoeing, San Jose, 1890s
#49 Women at the Alum Rock swimming pool, San Jose, 1897
#50 State Normal School Faculty group portrait, 1893
#51 First Methodist-Episcopal Church altar, San Jose, 1894
#52 Agnews State Hospital, close up of side, 1890
#53 Stagecoaches enroute to Mount Hamilton on Alum Rock Avenue near the San Jose Country Club, 1895
#54 Evergreen School, San Jose, 1890
#55 State Normal School, Washington Square, 1896
#56 San Fernando Street Horsecar, 1890s
#57 Street Scene, North First Street., San Jose, 1890
#58 View of downtown San Jose from Courthouse, 1890
#59 St. Aloysius Day Parade, San Jose, 1891
#60 San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga Interurban R. R., 1895
#61 Horsecar on The Alameda, 1895
#62 Parade at First and St. John Streets, 1890
#63 Statehouse Replica at Market Street Plaza, San Jose, 1899
#64 Looking down at Market Square/Market Plaza, with the old San Jose Library building and St. Joseph’s Church, 1890s
#65 San Jose High School – Class of 1891
#66 Early San Jose Mercury Newspaper Office, 1890
The space used by the San Jose Mercury is on the right and the space used by the Santa Clara Valley Land Agency is on the left. Both spaces are fronted by long counters with men sitting/standing behind them. More men are standing at the rear of the photograph. This office was located at 171 West Santa Clara Street in San Jose. Office space was shared by these two companies for only a few years.
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#67 Roses in garden and on porch, 1895
#68 Post Office on Market Street, 1890
#69 Palace Hotel, San Jose, 1898
#70 Group of San Joseans during the Spanish American War, 1898
#71 St. Patrick’s Church, 1898
#72 Two women and two girls on a house porch, 1890s
#73 woman feeding goat on porch, 1890s
#74 Mount Hamilton stage coach livery, 1892
#75 Southern Pacific Depot, North First Street, 1898
#76 Mangrum & Otter, Plumbing and Hardware; 85 East Santa Clara Street, 1890
#77 Alum Rock Garden, 1897
#78 Building at Golden Gate Park, 1890s
#79 Lick Observatory buildings, 1898
#80 Vennum House on Lundy Road, December 25, 1895
#81 Vendome Hotel, 1895
#82 Vallejo waterfront and ferry, 1890s
#83 Socrates Kirk House on Hicks Rd, 1895
#84 Building set back from the road, with tall trees in front of it. Appears to be a mountain setting, 1892
#85 James H. Campbell Home, 1890
#86 People Preparing for a Stage Ride, 1890s
#87 W. Faulknar Horse Showing & Blacksmithing, 1890s
#88 Steamship at Minticelo, 1890s
#89 Fredericksburg Brewery on the corner of Cinnabar and The Alameda, 1895
#90 Alum Rock Railroad, 1895
#91 American Fish Co., F. Locicero; lots of fowl, 1890s
#92 South First Street, San Jose, 1890
#93 Native Sons of the Golden West Parade, 1890s
#94 Mangrum & Otter Hardwarem, 1892
#95 Garden, Santa Clara College, 1890
#96 Eaton House, 1890s
#97 Alviso School, San Jose, 1895
#98 Singleton Home on Senter Road, 1895
#99 First Street Scene, 1890s
#100 Golden Gate Packing Electrical Co, 1890s
#101 Goodrich’s Sandstone Quarry, 1890
#102 Mount Hamilton Store, 1890
#103 Mountain View School, 1890s
#104 Edenvale Station, 1890
#105 Talladega, Alabama, group, 1896
#106 Fountain counter at drug store, 1890s
#107 Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Altitude 4200 ft, 1895
#108 possibly the Hellyer Home, 1895
#109 Agricultural scene in Gilroy, 1890
#110 Mayfield School, 1890s
#111 The Garden City Winery owned by A. Lagna on South Almaden Boulevard, 1890s
#112 Horse train hauling logs near Mt. Shasta, 1898
#113 Palo Alto Parlor No. 82, N.S.G.W., 1898
#114 Smith Creek hotel, Mt. Hamilton Road, 1895
#115 Mount Hamilton Summit, 1890
#116 Railway express office, 1890s
#117 Grain harvesting operation, 1890s
#118 Bar room scene, 1890s
#119 Benj. Gertaz women’s clothing store, 1890s
#120 Fredericksburg Brewery & Employees, 1895
#121 Man walking in front of building, 1890s
#122 Trolley Barn on The Alameda, near Race Street, 1890s
#123 Watkins Home, Gould Avenue., 1890
#124 College of the Pacific Conservatory of Music interior, 1896
#125 Mount Hamilton stable buildings, 1892
#126 Robertsville Store, Prosper Estrade proprietor, 1890s
#127 Brewery Wagon, 1892
#128 William Lewis Manly residence, 1890s
#129 California State Militia, 1890
#130 Henderson, William home, 1890
#131 Two-story Victorian house, 1895
