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- Streetcar in Garage, circa 1890 -
- circa 1890
- Collections - Artifact
Streetcar in Garage, circa 1890
- Michigan Car Company Works, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1880 - Michigan Car Company was formed in 1864, and it opened the factory shown in this image nine years later. The company built railroad freight cars and car parts. It was one of Detroit's largest manufacturers in the pre-automotive era. Sixteen-year-old Henry Ford briefly apprenticed at Michigan Car Company in 1879.
- circa 1880
- Collections - Artifact
Michigan Car Company Works, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1880
Michigan Car Company was formed in 1864, and it opened the factory shown in this image nine years later. The company built railroad freight cars and car parts. It was one of Detroit's largest manufacturers in the pre-automotive era. Sixteen-year-old Henry Ford briefly apprenticed at Michigan Car Company in 1879.
- "Inauguration of the Crystal Palace - Interior of Sixth Avenue Car," 1853 - In the mid-1800s, horse-drawn streetcars provided a convenient and affordable way to get around a growing city. Streetcars traveled the main urban thoroughfares and took passengers to workplaces, local shops and businesses, parks and other destinations. This print from 1853 shows New Yorkers headed to the opening of the city's Crystal Palace exhibition.
- 1853
- Collections - Artifact
"Inauguration of the Crystal Palace - Interior of Sixth Avenue Car," 1853
In the mid-1800s, horse-drawn streetcars provided a convenient and affordable way to get around a growing city. Streetcars traveled the main urban thoroughfares and took passengers to workplaces, local shops and businesses, parks and other destinations. This print from 1853 shows New Yorkers headed to the opening of the city's Crystal Palace exhibition.
- Toy Streetcar, 1920-1940 - Toy companies began making small, inexpensive, yet colorful, tin toys in the late 19th century. Over the years, toymakers stamped tin into shapes of animals, airplanes, boats, soldiers and even this streetcar. Children could purchase these low-priced toys from shopkeepers or street vendors. These mass-produced toys -- though not meant to last -- provided fun for just a few pennies.
- 1920-1940
- Collections - Artifact
Toy Streetcar, 1920-1940
Toy companies began making small, inexpensive, yet colorful, tin toys in the late 19th century. Over the years, toymakers stamped tin into shapes of animals, airplanes, boats, soldiers and even this streetcar. Children could purchase these low-priced toys from shopkeepers or street vendors. These mass-produced toys -- though not meant to last -- provided fun for just a few pennies.
- Inman Park Streetcar #8, Atlanta & Edgewood Street Railway, circa 1890 - The Atlanta and Edgewood Street Railway Company introduced Atlanta's first electric streetcars in 1889. With oak interiors and plate glass windows, they were far fancier than the city's horse-drawn cars. Unlike existing lines that provided a cheap, practical way to get around, Edgewood Avenue service offered comfortable transportation for residents of Inman Park, a planned neighborhood east of downtown.
- circa 1890
- Collections - Artifact
Inman Park Streetcar #8, Atlanta & Edgewood Street Railway, circa 1890
The Atlanta and Edgewood Street Railway Company introduced Atlanta's first electric streetcars in 1889. With oak interiors and plate glass windows, they were far fancier than the city's horse-drawn cars. Unlike existing lines that provided a cheap, practical way to get around, Edgewood Avenue service offered comfortable transportation for residents of Inman Park, a planned neighborhood east of downtown.
- Cable Car on Madison Street, Seattle, Washington, circa 1905 - The Madison Street cable car line carried passengers between Elliot Bay and Lake Washington. At the end of the line, Madison Park offered paying riders a boathouse, piers, bandstand, baseball and football fields, and even a beer hall. This helped make the Madison Street line especially popular during summer weekends.
- circa 1905
- Collections - Artifact
Cable Car on Madison Street, Seattle, Washington, circa 1905
The Madison Street cable car line carried passengers between Elliot Bay and Lake Washington. At the end of the line, Madison Park offered paying riders a boathouse, piers, bandstand, baseball and football fields, and even a beer hall. This helped make the Madison Street line especially popular during summer weekends.
- Meaker Manufacturing Company Fare Box, circa 1900 -
- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Meaker Manufacturing Company Fare Box, circa 1900
- American Car Company Streetcar, 1922 - Faced with growing competition from automobiles, streetcar companies economized. Charles O. Birney designed a small, single-truck streetcar that could be operated by one person rather than the usual two-member crew. The Birney Safety Car included a "dead man" controller that stopped the vehicle if the operator unexpectedly let go. This Birney car operated in Fort Collins, Colorado, from 1924-1951.
- November 01, 1922
- Collections - Artifact
American Car Company Streetcar, 1922
Faced with growing competition from automobiles, streetcar companies economized. Charles O. Birney designed a small, single-truck streetcar that could be operated by one person rather than the usual two-member crew. The Birney Safety Car included a "dead man" controller that stopped the vehicle if the operator unexpectedly let go. This Birney car operated in Fort Collins, Colorado, from 1924-1951.
- Pullman-Sessions Double Decker Streetcar, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1892 - A number of U.S. railway companies experimented with double-deck streetcars. The West End Street Railway Company in Boston, Massachusetts, tried this one during the winter of 1891-92. The car could seat about 40 passengers on each deck and more could find standing room. While double-deck streetcars carried more passengers, they never became a popular option in the United States.
- circa 1892
- Collections - Artifact
Pullman-Sessions Double Decker Streetcar, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1892
A number of U.S. railway companies experimented with double-deck streetcars. The West End Street Railway Company in Boston, Massachusetts, tried this one during the winter of 1891-92. The car could seat about 40 passengers on each deck and more could find standing room. While double-deck streetcars carried more passengers, they never became a popular option in the United States.
- "San Francisco" Snow Globe, 1980-1995 - Tourist attractions offered souvenir seekers something new beginning in the 1950s: inexpensive plastic snow globes. These evolved from fancier versions through innovations in plastics and manufacturing technology, and they quickly became connected with travel. Snow globes were fun to collect, easy to transport, and served as both proof of the journey and a lasting representation of vacation memories.
- 1980-1995
- Collections - Artifact
"San Francisco" Snow Globe, 1980-1995
Tourist attractions offered souvenir seekers something new beginning in the 1950s: inexpensive plastic snow globes. These evolved from fancier versions through innovations in plastics and manufacturing technology, and they quickly became connected with travel. Snow globes were fun to collect, easy to transport, and served as both proof of the journey and a lasting representation of vacation memories.