Vintage Thanksgiving Menus

Thanksgiving dinner cards from grand American hotels, 1881–1908

Before the holiday became commercialized, American hotels printed thoughtful, illustrated Thanksgiving Day menus that captured the harvest spirit. These cards range from the modest Hotel Roanoke to the formal Plaza Hotel and Murray Hill Hotel of New York — all featuring distinctly American cuisine: wild turkey, oyster soup, mince pie, sweet potatoes, terrapin.

Thanksgiving is the largest holiday sub-collection in our archive.

More occasions: Christmas  ·  Easter  ·  New Year  ·  Dinner