1800s Archives - Click Americana

Photos from the day of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (1863)

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address speech was so brief, history has no photographs of President Lincoln actually saying those oft-repeated words on November 19, 1863. But here are the pictures we do have of the President that day.

Home of Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt - Fifth Avenue New York City - 1894

See NYC’s stunning historical Fifth Avenue mansions (1890s)

Take a stroll back to the late 1800s and early 1900s to see some of the grand homes and mansions that lined New York City's famed Fifth Avenue.

Abraham Lincoln quotes: Famous sayings from a wise leader

Practically starting the moment he uttered the syllables, Abraham Lincoln's words of wisdom have served to illuminate the course of America, and to encourage every person to be the best version of him or hersel... Read more...

100 years of classic mint julep recipes (1862-1962)

It seems that there are almost as many mint julep recipes as there are people who enjoy these frosty alcoholic beverages. We searched through newspaper and book archives to collect these nine julep how-tos that span a century. Take a look at what we found!

And they’re off! Look back at the history of the Kentucky Derby

How did the Kentucky Derby get started? Now, the famous Louisville horse race is the first part of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, but when it started, people didn't know how important and iconic the Derby would eventually become. Here's a look back at its history.

Looking back at the history of Chicago (1977)

It is hard to believe that only two centuries ago, Chicago was a lonely marshland of trees and tall grass, a place with an abundance of wild onions, from which the Iroquois gave it its name, Chicagou.

America’s slave trade: Newspaper ads offering people for sale (1729-1800)

While books and articles on the American slave trade can provide important insights, actually seeing the ads that were placed in the newspapers of the era really brings it home.

Unidentified but not forgotten: Antique portraits from Cincinnati

Before the Civil War, a talented photographer named James Presley Ball, Sr. produced beautiful daguerreotype portraits for hundreds of people -- among them Charles Dickens, PT Barnum, Queen Victoria and the fam... Read more...

Thou Soul of our souls: A prayer by Theodore Parker (1950)

Our Father who art in heaven, thou Soul of our souls - A prayer delivered on Sunday, October 6, 1850, by Theodore Parker, American Transcendentalist and reforming minister of the Unitarian church

See the last photograph ever taken of Abraham Lincoln (1865)

A final look at President Lincoln This photo of Abraham Lincoln was taken on the balcony of the White House on March 6, 1865 by Henry F Warren. It's now considered to be the very last photo of the man taken du... Read more...

See how they had to remove snow 100 years ago

Without the kind of winter weather equipment we take for granted, removing snow from city streets and sidewalks was a huge undertaking. Here's a look!

Recipe for dinner on New Year’s Day (1891)

Ellice Serena Prescribes a Dinner Suited to Stomachs Tried by the Thanksgiving and Christmas Festivities -- How to Make and Serve the Various Dishes. The stomach is perhaps a little the worse for the ove... Read more...

Abraham Lincoln assassinated: Official accounts of the President’s murder (1865)

Last evening at about 9:30 p.m., at Ford's Theatre, the President was shot by an assassin who suddenly entered the box and approached behind the President. The pistol-ball entered the back of the President's head, and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal.

The Encyclopedia of American Last Names

How did your last name come to be -- and who brought it to America? Find out in this book, featuring 400 pages of information about more than a thousand last names of the original colonists and other early settlers!

Rediscovering the joy of Christmas giving (1886)

If you can spare no money, and have no leisure to make pretty and inexpensive things, give pleasant words and wishes. Have faith enough in your friends to believe they will understand you.

The Gettysburg Address: How it really happened (1863)

Apart from providing a detailed description of the ceremonies, these fascinating accounts also give some unique perspectives on President Lincoln’s famous two-minute speech.

Charming & colorful fashions for women from every month of 1859

From the Editor of Godey's Lady's Book, 1859: A few words about the "fashions" Try, my dear young friends, to cultivate your talents to bear a good proportion to your skeletons. Expand your kindly feeling... Read more...

Abraham Lincoln’s letter of condolence to Mrs Bixby (1864)

"The cherished memory of the loved and lost" President Lincoln's letter of condolence was delivered to Lydia Bixby on November 25, 1864, and was republished in newspapers around the country. The text read as f... Read more...

Meet Josephine Garis Cochrane, inventor of the dishwasher (1892)

The inventor of the dishwashing machine The patron saint of the emancipated woman of the future will be Josephine Garis Cochrane, the inventor of the dishwashing machine. She will be enshrined in the grate... Read more...

America shocked when Alexander Hamilton dies after a duel (1804)

"The greatest man in America" has fallen in a duel The Sprig Of Liberty (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - July 27, 1804 DISTRESSING! It is with infinite regret that we have received the following melancholy i... Read more...

Victorian etiquette: 14 rules for men on etiquette in the parlor (1889)

By Nathan B Medbery, author "Social Etiquette" Etiquette topic: Which treats of etiquette in the parlor 14 simple suggestions on conduct for gentlemen Number 1 -- Avoid self-consciousness. Be so thoughtful o... Read more...

6 stunning silver Victorian tilting water pitchers (1889)

The tilting water pitcher was something often found on the dining table during the Victorian era. Mounted on a swing pivot, it simplified the task of pouring ice water into cups or glasses, as there was no lifting required.

Which way does the wind blow? A look back at antique weathervanes

Vintage weathervanes were made in almost every conceivable design and pattern. Horses, cows, deer, eagles, ships. roosters and even pigs were hammered in metal and used to register the direction of the wind.

Fine fall and winter fashions for women from 1890

For cooler weather: Wraps, cloaks and circulars Plush in rich qualities is largely used for wraps this season. There are beautiful figured plushes on blush in ball wraps and other set designs. These are show... Read more...

Going up? 20 gorgeous old-fashioned metalwork elevators

Why take the stairs while you can ride up in comfort inside one of these antique metalwork 'cage' style elevator cars, made with beautiful ornamental iron? Just tell the bellhop what floor you want.

The Victorian lady’s way to keep warm: Fall & winter clothing from 1891

Tailor-made jackets in velvet are now quiet the thing, and made medium-length, double-breasted, turned-back collar and pockets on either side; very much, in fact, on the order of the English top coat.

Why corsets were a multi-million dollar industry even back in 1888

An Eastern corset dealer, who has in his time evidently written editorials for a circus, claims that his corset makes any thin figure a vision of loveliness, baffling description, and defying exaggeration.

A dozen fashionable Victorian fireplaces from 1880

Antique fireplace mantels from 1880 Used in connection with the Peerless Grate consists of five pieces of tile, which rest upon the outer or stationary frame of the grate. They are so constructed as to admit o... Read more...

Art tile stoves for the up-to-date Victorian home (1890)

A leader among art stove makers In the matter of ornamentation, our "Art Tile stove" is the leader among "Art stoves." Its mantle of embossed tiles, covering the entire stove and forming a solid shell around... Read more...

See the fun from Cheyenne’s Frontier Days: A yearly wild west fest (1897-1902)

Cheyenne's "Frontier Day" (1897): 8,000 people see an entertaining time Bronco riding, Wild horse race, Stage hold-up, Hanging bee, Cow-pony races, etc. -- A sham battle Cheyenne, Wyo., Sept 23 -- The first... Read more...

Victorian graphic design: Stylized paint labels (1870s & 1880s)

These bits of well-preserved vintage graphic artistry come from the simply-named Paints Oils Varnishes catalog from F. W. Devoe Co. of New York, which was published in 1885. (The catalog also contained several ... Read more...

The Lewis and Clark Expedition, 100 years later (1905)

To Lewis and Clark belongs the credit for the discovery and exploration of The Oregon Country. They were the first white men, and excepting the narrowly ranging tribes of Indians, to traverse the country.

Stanford University: Monument to the memory of a senator’s son (1888)

The buildings are to be like the old adobe houses of the early Spanish days; they will be one-storied, have deep window seats and open fireplaces, and the roofs will be covered with dark red tiles. The material is to be a fine cream colored sandstone.