During the decades after the Civil War, St. Louis grew to become the nation’s fourth largest city, after New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. It also experienced rapid infrastructure and transportation development and the growth of heavy industry. The period culminated with the 1904 World’s Fair and 1904 Summer Olympics, which were held concurrently in St. Louis.
During the 1880s, the city grew in population by 29 percent, from 350,518 to 451,770, making it the country’s fourth largest city; it also ranked fourth as measured by value of its manufactured products, and more than 6,148 factories existed in 1890. However, during the 1890s, manufacturing growth slowed dramatically.[138] The Panic of 1893 and subsequent depression and the overproduction of grain made St. Louis mills considerably less productive and valuable. Flour milling was halved and most other industries suffered similar declines.
The introduction of the railroad in St. Louis helped spread the fortune and initialize much of this industrial success. With the completion of the Municipal Railroad System, St. Louis’ manufacturers could get their products to consumers on the East Coast much faster than before.
A boy on stilts stands in front of the produce stands in front of the F.J. Voepel Market, 1906
Construction of North Taylor Avenue at the intersection of Florissant Avenue, 1906
Delmar Boulevard from Kingshighway, 1914
Gravois Road looking east at River des Peres, 1914
Group of men standing in front of the Globe Shaving Parlor at 1015 Carr Street, ca. 1910
Intersection of Fifteenth Street and Franklin, looking northwest, ca. 1900s
Intersection of Sixth and Walnut Streets, 1907
Lawton Street looking west to Beaumont, ca. 1910
A man peers out of the window at Cole Brothers Lightning Rod Company at 316 S. Seventh Street, ca. 1900s
Market Street Grocery Company building, ca 1900s
Mound City Buggy Company on east side of Broadway between Papin and Chouteau, ca. 1900s
Mutoscope Parlor and Theatre on the northwest corner of Olive Street and Leonard Avenue, 1912
Nineteenth Street looking north from Dodier Street, 1900
Northeast corner of Third Street and Lucas Avenue, ca. 1900s
Northwest corner of Eighth and Pine Streets, 1910
Olive Street looking toward Sarah Street. Photograph, ca. 1910
Pedestrians on the sidewalk near the intersection of Sixth and Locust Streets, ca. 1900s
An empty cart for distributing beer in front of a bar on a street, ca. 1900s
Pedestrians passing the F.W. Woolworth Company store at 413 N. Sixth Street and the Strand Theater box office, 1914
Seventh Street looking north towards Locust Street, ca. 1910s
Sidewalk in front of 1006 Olive Street, ca. 1900s
Sidewalk on Olive Street looking west from Seventh Street, ca. 1900s
