Jacob Riis took photographs in the late 1800s that documented the unsanitary living conditions faced by many New York City slum dwellers, including a photograph of children playing near a dead horse in the street when the city did not provide adequate services. Riis published these images in a 1890 book to bring attention to the poor conditions faced by those living in tenement housing in New York City at that time.

1. Photographs by Jacob Riis
Source: Pearson/Prentice Hall United States History/Survey Reconstruction Teacher Express Pack
A horse lies dead in a New York City street
as children play nearby. A lack of city
services forced slum-dwellers to live in
unsanitary conditions.
Riis’ 1890 book

2. Tenements

3. Tenement interior

4. Bandit’s Roost

5. Children