These days, the typical American Thanksgiving menu is pretty standardized: turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pie. Back in the late 19th century, when the holiday’s status as a national observance was still relatively new, those dishes were already being consumed but holiday menus of the time could show a little variety. For example, on Nov. 30, 1899, at the Plaza Hotel, you could get turkey stuffed with chestnuts for $0.75—or sweetbreads, cooked “Parisienne” style, for a dollar.
That Plaza menu is just one of many historical bills of fare that have been digitized by the New York Public Library’s “
What’s on the Menu?” project. The Library has 45,000 menus dating as far back as the 1840s. Below is a selection of 30 amazing vintage Thanksgiving menus from the late 19th century (click on each image to view it larger):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWApcJDPoO5Nd9LTtnWjg_2lIC4nNpekSOEQsZpNxfGP8s5fZpvJT453-ueyd5JtFatXl-Kk3xIVQV1uKdijvKnUNaT7zW39yoC0UUKcoHq-_fvpjcjbinAH2whyI8iSE-Ew2dKaUc1EOc9v36UlMbBMhPxCdbBxNAfdiACEbQjG_nYkwx9k8F2pNgX-Q/w432-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-1.jpg) |
Hotel Duquesne, 1889 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK-4mQSGSXt38ZR7tJ6y4YPg2QYE99ISdF5Zi16W1x4T-xX_56uRAa5jwwrBCI1PAiTSCJswRgxpuc-vxFeywWKhh7cf3u6Q5QEFRZHlasRSZSRnRzT1dIBjh6jEckSJFE0kV3TdXudH6XUrOEfu_eANk9JBKZ1ddf5WyQ-2UID5ahhTdsakFkr0qr6U/w498-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-2.jpg) |
Hotel Normandie, 1889 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXCINQaqNLppvanxqBXtaWn4PZswg2WduuLUHjtqJWedMjpLNZfrNL61ZDGO58kE-5IxjCPi_u9ZlfxrDrBQEAGH-yrbPpr5v4UXpJ-adjQvGuRiHf1TMh3JTdPS8Yu4we1hTXhKtHc-eIJtO1xVRU62e-IycleSWg9cUgkBjz8jS7TLh9m5zYsvsAHw/w414-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-3.jpg) |
Murray Hill Hotel, 1891 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqVQRPK1cPIF6NSWtLKgN5JFG1JOn86F5-fMbHbXdFmbJ2Sh-AQ27ZpRkPqA9_w3illVB_FlvlhsvtoEJgM7mtFFtbVASCb1wynkqWVZqrStwxZMHX7f7YcJuN3ASnAGGEKrNPa-nL8fa7-YRM0jwkhyWh-8ZQtQBpH7ZnMSIQUhJVSViSJ_xBNC8U4s/w468-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-4.jpg) |
Occidental Hotel, 1891 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFvAyhyphenhyphenBTbrTeAoV3rFljKfeoRIWMr_IdWwvIoQDfQ4bs0UecihMQ_LMwMYOU3etI6eoRVRTGcaSYmhSShvbhfw63c7iTijjDC6__pKHl_mgtpE9tlL99IinBdV505a1AiSQ84sPmzNddzoSoI86PFDXVyAhwCDo83xfOxcrCZXQR9OLVRh0J9Ro3D6c/w484-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-5.jpg) |
The Portland, 1891 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-QKGTYKhPF1XUuL97-chNbg63PrAZ3plp636-WP8clezdTGQJYxyCBxc7-BD6QWfMFyKdOxyxj-gw68DSUk9Gk6d9hPY2J72nJZd7JNoeVFBmI9Jphpa-0NdPayxb13PYCuGaXujjb7Jle92eGFaNY7wTUeqgPXkPgMByMypD5FWjJQKj59ChiJpgwU/w486-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-6.jpg) |
Hotel Roanoke, 1895 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJe0wQA9jamZSQcQBWkIPx5zniwqkCt6YEpRKs7TSNZytBg_75MH0vNDb8Dd677W8biA0dfxhzJflDsKSDeHytuq4OJ3O_2GVfo-DJVOlbmTX4w_mGCs3vDmJGRxLWVcnvTeKYCJogSnWaP_hHVpdZlsWnSIa0pAbMoYxodWcjNRgIm-_FV-FkgVeT60/w472-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-7.jpg) |
Hotel Vendome, 1895 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWVGY13SzdY1ITzbcs1Q_E96ddRjWWTLxt53jwNYM7bwPBaDCT7A00ySrIWjrkqjBPqeFj9qwsp0B3jdW4zktLk2vgxu0E78GMGXdCf1h1ad7vPyyKx5MoHhMqvxH8hbRlKY64uaH6sC-6_taJseB2xM8ZqxEXXjs91RAe2WLv4QvdylJ4UXOm-JGVLw/w466-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-8.jpg) |
The Jackson, 1895 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQr6lhHb_sQOhFSdRhE9VQM7Vx-HolI_mtq8UPhBgAP5Udyqjss78co-NalskFcY95jLj5M7QO1g2GizIc9l1hZtH0uJ7F_QHPqJ_N8SHQObDADO3g2TRciEmRDkBw9TC4AgOoFJdTwsHdhKAmegLRxSkX2BdH2ANmX7k0F905yfJcsw9hI2DqwMhsyDc/w494-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-9.jpg) |
Butterfield, 1896 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwtoV9e4SRdbIzerLIPbXfsKvq-6vGAGWOrnEPryg5JAA_dfHx2-kiAAR7zg_ZanqKlugt3973RpxFQRslo8IGhpEjIDtklcENEcjKCMrIDQUdDtdTKdO-UYqjJne0UqdFCXLjs1WIGwyByw4BNUQOIS_imiaWxqWGLw0F-V0GDoZWnydq9IeZoecsSs/w492-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-10.jpg) |
Windsor, 1896 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9AcTNJlEPyo9UzzXIWIJlThzsTzTDAvyMmEjf7Lsjw4bUQEsWr2Y0PC_Oy2yNZKVuxQjEbS9wsM3frw_UzhApkx-TO1Yehu3bs34PYDIk4QI78kr9FbeQao2QDuMSfE69yns0a2HhVhMy2M3ZQYHvt412QCmHZ5scNSM8R7Hjt4GL5FoQdB80nEXbZE/w460-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-11.jpg) |
Hotel Algazar, 1897 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdQT7G4rfbbB9Ed7mgD-xHx9U_bEpOKaWwYf69zBzwtTm1ODgPLBTfXobL5N2R7jOWV4XRSERMJw-RoUZm00vDnvR7O-zaZlW5gGacs24Nlhcz2zGvHhYaJi4GDMs7IKZmwZE9L0_jmWD8hUNpBVXNpuILA7HmcPJLAuwRjgS85BFvWngIXIkWDR6-Xs/w482-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-12.jpg) |
Hotel Windermere, 1897 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JQfejmwhprB3zl1SegieqKx13S3LYMHyL-UzeDCn11VzhV26-TJQHY2Xw1WzTmRjs5tSDKpAoGBrkTrs6TPeiSGIQgjdXkDkFpdxZw6aGajvUyz4SjNOU3Tm-kEXM9F19vp2MJV5A5fbTecZy4ey3mYpfIKONbbBNqOzDEmZ2w6t0tNUHhgP4Hzy1jo/w438-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-13.jpg) |
Burnet House, 1898 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Rrd6gA6xlESP2OLLSJiJSfwAQx5fK2T076djvjcVR6DezLO6noGmH-_0ZaJCTP2td0J7qn8VhRd1k8aLe4ZPb48oUxzB2vlCLdtnWP7lat1n7H_h001d34CeVxvkDK4jIufWYkwDGJTJMgSLJBfQTFMmRqkf_TRgiS50Q3vG76g8nvbRH9B-Dwxhpvw/w464-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-14.jpg) |
City Hotel, 1898 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZwSbjqKEgJOepmdY28DPP6irwm3-HlyQAPpc_z9X26NcT6YUZlaKnu0ib1E0CcvBxXSAquMgDQG5FyG5IgWRqB9KADDYpVHVQJKYpBmqeN8h5nHW8e3lXrIc48BPHaBMK5nCuGEFNKrsGR7MFLUOx_tCLczwzaj5_tQyY7PVY7K3e6h5Jwc2PudQAhc/w640-h612-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-15.jpg) |
Duncan Hotel, 1898 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLKg8njlNGfPNhrda99id004XvZbf3FZ6CUBAnuZ-9N_6z6ik4z0vxvzg2CS1UBeRHz4uuF6-_sfO6UnzKUrVV_UcgIwgpnWwbMlHGdnHNJLH7cnTCiRe2JSfoLY6GjVVW4sDaYYLhkGHPhuUMp3ZwMmNbHxbsRPIpFv9Nj_fKRIH-6eurCJ7__rbTsM/w458-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-16.jpg) |
Grand Hotel, 1898 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwm68m8xZXl-EpU_DRbEjaIaZYriSnQ-HvqeOzaBZ7IRvtkWV80llI49d87tMIQ5n2APPbZLTsOVgfum6UDpwsBfXXObNORnK1D6nCTZ7tGs7Ni88LOXoMq6YghxI66CnkcgUb8JyxPY_h44tfuYsxDJlzAJ3wcFOwAEPsDkS0sJXeVIz6FgLK-rnW6k/w418-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-17.jpg) |
Great Southern Fireproof Hotel, 1898 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUOwXZcj_aJqzLpexTn2sjr5aXgNUaoLfJcfFXoQY7UC2sLvtMAG7QfT3Ak9ncy5UW939cVnilqVazqgX5_JiTeW2Y61owSB1l0DAhK5Lq43qvTE4187wDO_FxyLhQsiJdBnCsZKURpp-5loN9d93dleTShiw0G66WAWjZ_UmeKTKjpTKdfBdfaRCBnk/w444-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-18.jpg) |
Southern Hotel, 1898 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGguUz6VV0M6nxFEADkMBVZbFCRtBzW7WBQzRemGpZussSgrcPs7BtBBqZ5a4Bx_q82RlBYYW_6n55jTEaJSU95ISXOledX8KRD8srCqVHhzD3mDHOGfzHyW-yKIIIr8k1za1pZa0TDrbQR8Hohm51lZOtyOrLmkAcZghyphenhyphenXgzsQB5TvlVX-qQ1j7hEtnc/w422-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-19.jpg) |
St. George Hotel, 1898 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBW8kx29wztX7bvumWPNRnc_1qpNr6V5Qz0l7u4gjTS7IBos92YzrrfeVCRbrix99VGJiIwvtHkTlFz3rCw2n5l8YMf1lnnK-CI9bmVPbrh-d6UpXtZ6rLdr8QMIrGdmpKLf9Q_-JjPPm6Dxu62cOIlT5qPmYbYIHpDvdhB3uPFOdhrOiUo56Q3zKHVJk/w402-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-20.jpg) |
Wyoming Valley Hotel, 1898 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3fefVAV4MATEQ1qwgwQh7WGXs9KAaEw9ZVdv7QtXn-Qdy0yLFdfRPsnD5EMO_Vs8YYGd8ua04JscWdax68blMf2MQ2EdsA2qp6chacxowsPI3b7ghM_t7Qsra_gJQE_K9-W9cUfAPkqM1vsxPs9UKU1FxuTpBq7dSnzCz_fxRlFE8D2_AwAdlK7cL88/w418-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-21.jpg) |
Ashton Hotel, 1899 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ub1a70HBRkF-3hHqBUP7jD_oFCry3FrJ-Depck1MS_FL9_UFyDq1M1OuoQD-TfTFRgccqqcRfd7OOPZRa9iZw8WvbkfmrT3jI0T9jQM5H3trBHpZCshKTGnNnPQHoi20DPW2Ect19DJMivKJ-ShYmj0tGhsXm0EmoTeBXFDR5Xha2sCgZQGiC9GFfiA/w496-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-22.jpg) |
Briggs House, 1899 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjjy23EycEwzHB4aVEerEbLSBhtyr_mlaxikM2ZUrjZPJoX2CHVq7zrLN5UGYxz-4uIuOYhXE4SVveqL6r9-pReeTxYCV5JTyDHeb7W4potFexnXxaILoSLDpOP5cbctIWP3Ykpw6-KWwzHpkVPTcPl4B3hsy3r1-aC_LcO9tDOr4UGMt8EOLiKwQk7I/w396-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-23.jpg) |
Broadway Central Hotel, 1899 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjfsj9zhH_9bPT9QkyYX8iYogjOw3BC4LJu-WV1qwjhGi2Am31G8ZMZvaBq7QWtQPCv6RNmBuXLzsuR0dP0-GrCkYuQoE1aSRxJf2WwHVBRMDy3whDGWizRkDoJClrx2B45jmTmk4ovQyJgYuP_OyEhb2ozbOWj6fyvXUBiBjOC1IDxF_QY7j8iK1b1I/w424-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-24.jpg) |
C. & N. W. Passenger Station, 1899 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFP3itl_0jqhRu42523zZbSGJ1Q3D0ZxbPidhyuOwA-a66if00XMCFQtfKUNy9uj-LL8AuZiKZCSKOgyJ1qYza8qVhvw1UO2Ly60TtGtQxGiIBQX6uC9lOQW8HMU-Edt8dYUg_CkDucA-wo4vuVn3LXIrFFoWbfpAM_A_Rr8x8c8wjo7J7LWBfXmUQU8/w400-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-25.jpg) |
Hotel Roanoke, 1899 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdds6IRKoIFoV1hY8d-peA_T06CO6SFB8MP8tC_h3vfdvnz-kLxIRJjdzofCQxRkl8LufOFLJEiXDt9DouPiogl3lX1N0MjMSxUFPz7qIrkYYLKXvSiptaoc8bjbtAZuH06DgyTLilbNA10eKBRhw0jflP4YqVvtaWf_8K3Wwr37qzloJAQlI0oxxh5g/w434-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-26.jpg) |
Hotel St. James, 1899 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b2UL6RJx7nPuUJePoeh58bYTdlCgM-YmTRBJWG58_O_6qacf9g_PtbBuGt7wvJxKNSRGG5Etb3Es4VR6cSj2Hg08ael2ONTSHGa2qSitIJV-t7yGBkQLYuSiVsQcizWKmzSdYKDNNj6Sl2cHySVjB9CX2A6Wkv49-F5F098SPIP5mTtIzWHVP4jJKyA/w460-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-27.jpg) |
Majestic Hotel, 1899 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3W4gKwuaWfiO5XI37Wm_gte6ZWKEFidn4HPChVYyUPVyVjKmFMugkIwVAto6vcw-ZmLjWfHUtn6Oijug6nmRA_fdc3WdFEp4ld_IHjb9oVCM3HoBVxhO4sfQMzHXwid2eb-sU4eeAKCRBvsVwcV1NtWx7U8ILGvB2Pi5k6dTr09F3-IAL1EAZ2e4Rtz8/w392-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-28.jpg) |
Plaza Hotel, 1899 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivVwdeudtEEK7LYF3vMlpFU0BSaeQYwvWvSwqOyozA2E8cNg2plxbVBgVsjesfhkFESpSaeRN1Ul1v8grNYSgiLXpua4_XOHW2MOkJ3A4CamT_9zaiUKFXo3lg8gYMp9oiQhko0KyhFKZlXEs-mBgyj-btDpMaHtZ3Z0A5NIxJUByeBJEVcgS44YO9qE/w640-h492-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-29.jpg) |
Quincy House, 1899 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKB_XJdMgy3MyHgEsC-xqYW8tFQNOwaeVTrf1FwU_Jpy8ZOsCFqKz8YRzR0_Q9-LH-MozpvXZIzijsw1OmLsCFj3i95i2De3SzDVs2uJ0R3HEhtLjkD9FXhyphenhyphen3kEVZ5CpJkiQ3RygdvonI2Aec3GrIOLs48m8zAlutjXteNoVpmiX1T9fCUS7bIcKxNmE/w424-h640-rw/19th-century-thanksgiving-menu-30.jpg) |
Sturtevant House, 1899 |
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