When I think of my first ancestor coming from a small rural town in Italy to the metropolis of New York City in 1890, I picture him being overwhelmed by the congestion and fast pace.
But maybe it wasn't that hectic. New York City was dramatically different 127 years ago.
Look at Grand Central Terminal in the 1890s and today. The chaos of yellow taxis and delivery trucks was merely a cable car and some horse-drawn wagons. (And it looked nothing like today's building!)
Take a tour through the online photo collection of the Library of Congress for more images. You can narrow your search by choosing a time period and a location.
The library's collection of historic American buildings can give you a glimpse of the landmarks your ancestors saw in their day.
If your ancestors were here for generations before mine, you might like the Library of Congress' various map collections. Drill down through the Cities and Towns collection, then narrow the results by date and location.
It may be difficult to imagine any U.S. city being underdeveloped. These digital collections can help you get in touch with the United States of your ancestors.
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