How was Paris before 1900?

In the past few years, countless tourists have strolled the streets of Paris, taking pictures of monuments and selfies in front of the Seine river. Over hundred years ago though, photos were very rare. This posts gathers a lot of pictures taken between 1842 and 1902 which appeared in this article in Paris Zig Zag magazine.

PS: as explained as the original article, most of the older pictures don’t show people because it took a very long time go get enough light in the camera. It was necessary for the subjects to keep a static pose for hours! 

The World’s Fair of 1900 

The oldest picture of Notre Dame – 1842

There were still windmills in Montmartre in 1852 

Barricades during the Commune of Paris in 1871 – 50 years after Gavroche!

Montgolfier in front of the Louvre

The construction of the Statue of Liberty 

A bad accident at the Montparnasse station in 1895

The opening of Eiffel Tower during the World’s Fair

Frozen Seine river in 1893 – Way before global warming!

First picture of lightening on the Eiffel Tower in 1902