Vintage articles and more in the 1900s category at Click Americana

The end of an era: New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel torn down (1929)

The doors of New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, a 36-year-old internationally-known institution, closed May 1, 1929. Noisy wreckers will clank in to tear it down. The old generation passes with a sigh. The new era enters with a roar.

Take a trip to Manhattan's magnificent old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

Take a trip back to New York’s original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

The luxurious original Waldorf-Astoria was among America's first big hotels. When it was built during the Victorian era, and for years thereafter, it was considered the finest hotel in the world -- and it soon became the most famous, too.

Sutro Baths bathing pools - San Francisco

San Francisco’s Victorian marvel: The huge swimming pools at Sutro Baths

The size of San Francisco's great Sutro Baths seizes the imagination, yet it is not oppressive, owing to the lightness and airiness of the structure. Tier upon tier rise seats, while at their base, visible to everyone, are the swimming tanks. The sea water is supplied by an ingenious use of the ocean waves.

See the rooms at the elegant old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (1903)

The suite life: See the rooms at the elegant Waldorf-Astoria (1903)

New York City's old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel -- torn down in 1929 -- was a luxurious Victorian building that served overnight guests as much as Manhattan's social elite. Here, take a look inside the hotel rooms and suites, and see what accommodations would have looked like back in 1903!

Vintage Memorial Day postcards

Here are more than a dozen colorfully-illustrated postcards published in honor of Memorial Day — known originally as Decoration Day. These antique cards are all from the early 1900s, and several feature the work of popular artist Ellen Clapsaddle.

Get laced up with more than 200 classic Victorian corsets

Throughout the 1800s, clothing styles for women changed considerably. Variations in fashions led to modifications in the length of the waist and the height of the bust, and other aspects of Victorian corsets. Come take a trip through history with this gallery of more than 200 corset styles!

Dive into these 10 amazing old indoor swimming pools

It's incredible to see how awesome -- in size, in design, in popularity -- old-fashioned indoor swimming pools could be. Here, take a look at 10 gorgeous pools from days gone by!

About Mother’s Day: How it began, and who started it all (1909)

Have you ever wondered about Mother's Day -- like how it got started? In the early years of the 20th century, Anna Jarvis started a movement that spread throughout the world: the custom of observing the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

House of Mrs. McGraw, 1085 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Mich c1910

Beautiful Victorian homes & mansions in old Detroit (early 1900s)

After years of growth through various successful businesses, Detroit became a major transportation hub, and many Gilded Age mansions were built to the east and west of what is now downtown Detroit.

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.

The old-fashioned grandmother has gone out of fashion (1900)

Fifty years ago, a woman practically retired from the pleasures and active interests of life at about her fortieth birthday, and began to get ready to die.

Old-fashioned sandwich recipes with fish and seafood

40 sandwich recipes made with fish & seafood (1909)

Sandwiches are the chief reliance for any sort of cold lunches, and should be daintily made of the best ingredients. Whether for a picnic, work lunch or to serve at a luncheon at home, here are 40 sandwich recipes using fish and seafood.

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!

Happy new year postcards: 1907-1911

Happy New Year! Here are some vintage postcards sent by people in the first part of the 1900s to wish friends and family a happy new year! ... Click to read more...

Music! Comedy! The wonder of Edison’s new phonograph player

The dance music of the Edison Phonograph is irresistible. It offers the most fascinating waltzes and spirited two-steps of the world's, great composers as well as the popular dance music of the hour.

6 vintage chocolate souffle recipes from the early 1900s

Here are six different ways to make authentic old-fashioned chocolate souffle desserts, based on recipes from more than 100 years ago!

See 75 stars of the stage shine on Theater Magazine (1901-1922)

Through these 75 gorgeous and artistic color covers of Theater magazine, take a peek back in time to the stage scene from the first decades of the twentieth century.

How to craft clever Christmas ornaments from paper (1960)

So pretty, such fun to do! One of the nicest Christmas customs we know is having both young and old make ornaments for the tree! These are paper -- so simple and imaginative, you'll want to pack them away ... Click to 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.

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... Click to 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.

Meet the Tattooed Lady (1909)

Gus Wagner is considered one of the first tattoo professionals, and sharing space with him on the marquee was his tattooed wife, Maud, who was at least as much of an attraction,

Proposing marriage: What to do when your best girl says ‘yes’ (1900)

What to do when your best girl says "yes" By RK Munkittrick There are many times in a man's life when he precipitates himself into a situation which suddenly brings him face to face with a crisis which, in ... Click to read more...

Photos of the aftermath: Galveston’s killer hurricane and flood (1900)

Thousands of men, women and children swept to sudden death. Millions of dollars worth of property destroyed. Heroic efforts to save human life. The world shocked by the appalling news. Such is the thrilling story of the Galveston flood.

H. G. Wells interviews Booker T. Washington (1906)

Booker T Washington discusses race relations with author H G Wells H. G. Wells, continuing in "Harper's Weekly" his admirably just and penetrating studies of American conditions and tendencies, concerns hims... Click to read more...

The fate of Galveston, Texas: The hurricane disaster of 1900

A witness describes how water was blown over Galveston by the hurricane -- the wind blowing at the rate of eighty miles an hour straight from the gulf, and driving the sea water before it in great waves.

Turn-of-the-century views of old Pasadena, California

Hotel Green, Pasadena, California Marengo Avenue, Pasadena Marengo Avenue, Pasadena Orange Grove Avenue, Pasadena Residence on Orange Grove Avenue, Pasadena ... Click to read more...

Scenes of Salt Lake City in 1900

The Bee Hive House, Salt Lake City Salt Palace, Salt Lake City The Lion House, Salt Lake City The Tabernacle, Salt Lake City Beside the Temple, Salt Lake City... Click to read more...

Give me your tired, your poor: The story of the Statue of Liberty’s poem (1903)

On the inside of the pedestal of the statute of Liberty Enlightening the World has been placed a bronze memorial tablet bearing Emma Lazarus's name and the sonnet she wrote twenty years ago, dedicated to the statue.

The picture jigsaw puzzle fad (1908)

The honor of inventing the jigsaw puzzles is said to fall to British mapmaker John Spilsbury, who created the first such puzzle in 1767 as an educational tool. However, inventing and popularizing are two comple... Click to read more...

16 fruity, boozy classic cordial & liqueur recipes

Try one or more of these classic cordial recipes - featuring cherries, raspberries, blackberries, redcurrants, oranges and peaches - and create yourself a rainbow of fruit flavor liqueurs the old-fashioned way!

Vintage postcards for the 4th of July

Here's a selection of vintage postcards to celebrate Independence Day -- aka the 4th of July -- all dating back to the first two decades of the 20th century!

Hotel Majestic and Central Park West, New York

New York’s summer splendor: Hotel Majestic’s roof garden (1903)

The Majestic is an attractive house at all times of the year, but it is additionally so in the summer, because of its beautiful roof garden.

Coney Island beach scenes (1890s-1920s)

Scene on the beach (1890s) Bathing at Coney Island, New York (1900) Coney Island in the early 1900s On the beach at Coney Island (1902) Coney Island, NY (1905) ... Click to read more...

Rolling hoops: The coolest toys around in the Victorian era

Below is an article published in 1961, reminiscing about the super-popular toys that were around for generations oh so long ago: rolling hoops and sticks. Do you remember? by Helen T Bartschat Rolling ho... Click to read more...