Eras

1860–1899

The Gilded Age

From the aftermath of the Civil War through the explosive growth of industry, railroads, and cities. America transformed from an agrarian republic into an industrial powerhouse, while immigrants poured through Ellis Island seeking a new life.

146 photographs

1900–1919

The Progressive Era

The dawn of the American century — skyscrapers rose, automobiles replaced horses, and the nation grappled with labor rights, women's suffrage, and a world war that would reshape the globe.

454 photographs

1920–1939

Boom & Bust

The roaring twenties gave way to the Great Depression. Jazz, prohibition, and speculation defined the era's highs; breadlines, dust storms, and migration defined its lows.

236 photographs

1940–1960

The Modern Age

World War II galvanized the nation, and the postwar boom built the suburbs, the highway system, and the American middle class. A new world was taking shape.

164 photographs