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

By the time Shirley Temple sang about Fifth Avenue in 1940, it had been “the grandest thoroughfare” for more than fifty years. Take a stroll back to the late 1800s and early 1900s to see some of the grand homes that helped their owners call this Manhattan street home.

Fifth Avenue

Hop a bus, take a car / Hail a cab and there you are
On Fifth Avenue (old Fifth Avenue)
Ev’ry Joe, ev’ry Jane / Walks along that dreamer’s lane
On Fifth Avenue (that’s Fifth Avenue)
Where they stop, window shop, and their hopes are so high
Pricing rings, pretty things that they can’t afford to buy
But they smile, they don’t care / Ev’ryone’s a millionaire
When you’re strolling on Fifth Avenue

(From “Fifth Avenue,” lyrics & music by Mack Gordon/Harry Warren)

J. J. Astor residence (1893)

This mansion, located at 840 Fifth Avenue, New York City, was the home of millionaire businessman John Jacob Astor IV, who died when the Titanic sank.

Home of Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1894)

A T Stewart residence at 34 5th Avenue

This mansion was built around 1869, by architect John Kellum (photo from 1899)

Home of William K Vanderbilt

These photos show a street view of the William Kissam Vanderbilt residence, which was located at 660 Fifth Avenue, New York City. (Photo 1 from 1897, photo 2 from 1903)

ALSO SEE: Beautiful homes in old Detroit (early 1900s)

Residence of Mrs Paran Stevens

The 244 5th Avenue New York City home of the society leader Marietta Reed Stevens (photo from 1894)

Senator William Clark’s home

This 5th Avenue mansion of former Senator William A Clark reportedly cost $7,000,000 (photo from 1910)

MORE: New York City views (1917)

W V Lawrence residence

Mansion home located at 969 Fifth Avenue in New York City (photo from 1891)

Mansion home of Mr Griswald, 5th Ave., New York City

Located at 857 Fifth Avenue — at the northeast corner of 5th and 67th Street. Home number 858, next door, was the residence of Thomas F Ryan.

MORE: The new mansion home of Claus Spreckels (1897)

Brokaw house

Isaac Brokaw mansion, designed by Rose & Stone, with an apartment house in the background. The New York City mansion was located at 5th Avenue and East 79th Street, and was demolished in 1965. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2010)