In this modern age, we take pictures of ourselves, our dinners, and anything else that we want; when we want and as many pictures as we feel like. Most of us have hundreds of pictures on our phones and we add more everyday. It is easy and free to snap a moment in time now. But for most of history taking pictures was a labor and cost intensive act. Pictures were only taken during serious events or to mark a special time (if you could afford such luxury). The images below are some of the oldest ever taken in St. Louis. Look below for a glimpse of our past.

1. South Broadway, May 27, 1896. The aftermath of a tornado that destroyed many buildings and homes.
Westkentuckygenealogy - Wiki Commons
2. Jefferson and Allen Avenue are completely leveled by the tornado. May 27, 1896
J C Strauss & Steve Nicklas- Wiki Commons
3. Park Avenue, May 27,1896. A women walks through the rubble of a destroyed home.
Samborsky Photo - Wikipedia
4. St. Louis, 1851. Daguerreotype of Thomas Martin Easterly's store.
Missouri History Museum/public domain - Wikimedia/unattributed
5. The Mercantile Library Hall, 1870. 510 Locust Street. It is now a banking center.
Hoelke & Benecke - Wiki Commons

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6. North 4th and Chestnut Street, 1872.
Emil Boehl - Wiki Commons
7. St. Louis, 1885. Drummond Tobacco Company Building.
Absecon 49 - Wiki Commons
8. The Beers Hotel, exact date unknown: 1890 - 1919. Grand Avenue and Olive Street.
Emil Boehl - Wiki Commons
9. The Eads Bridge construction, circa 1874.
Kbh3rd - Wiki Commons
10. St. Louis,1849. The oldest photo in this collection shows the city in ruins after a fire swept through the city. The fire started on a steamboat on the river, and jumped to 22 other boats, the fire continued to spread onto buildings on the waterfront.
Thomas Martin Easterly- Wiki Commons

With these photos, we have an idea of what life was like for the people in St. Louis in the 1800’s. And life was tough back then. What will history see in our photos, 100 years into the future?

Do you recognize the places in the photos or have images to share? You can upload them to the comments section of our Only In St. Louis Facebook page.

Want to see more history in pictures? Check out the 1904 Olympic Games in Missouri.

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