Here Are Some Of The Oldest Photos Ever Taken In Louisville And They’re Incredible

Louisville is a city filled with a fascinating history, and much of the physical history is still standing today. I was surprised to see so many familiar sights in these historic Louisville photos taken more than a century ago in 1906. I hope you enjoy these old photographs of our incredible city as much as I did.

1. The streets are lined with a surprising amount of people

2. A bustling Louisville street, circa 1906

It's so interesting to compare life in Louisville back then to now, more than 100 years later. The woman's heavy but elegant dress stands out in a sea of black suits. Although many of the buildings in Louisville have remained the same, life in the city certainly has changed.

3. The streetcar system operated by the Louisville Railway Company was quite efficient back in the day

At its peak, the Louisville Railway Company ran more than 500 cars and even provided 24-hour service on its busiest routes. The Great Depression negatively impacted business, and the increasing reliance on personal vehicles eventually marked the end for Louisville streetcars in the late 1940s.

4. The Louisville Herald was a competitor of the Courier Journal

The newspaper actually went bankrupt twice, and the owner finally decided to call it quits the second time around.

5. Some of you may remember the old Columbia building on the corner of 4th and Main

This impressive building had 10 stories and was the second skyscraper ever built in Louisville. It was demolished in 1966, and the 24-story BB&T building stands in its place.

6. Cave Hill Cemetery remains unchanged, except for the model of cars parked outside

The beautiful entrance to the Cave Hill cemetery remains unchanged. The cemetery was founded in 1848, and this entrance was built in 1892.

7. Union Station in its glory days

At its peak in the 1920s, more than 50 trains came and went throughout the day. Today, the building remains almost as it did then, although it is no longer a functioning rail station. The building serves as the administration office for TARC.

8. Hogan's Fountain in Cherokee Park is a gorgeous sight to behold

Although the pavilion was built much later, I was surprised to find this photo of Hogan's Fountain in Cherokee Park from 1906. The park first opened in 1891 after being designed by the "father of landscape architecture," Frederick Law Olmstead.

9. The Crescent Hill Reservoir hasn't changed much in the last century

This incredible Gothic-style gatehouse at the Crescent Hill Reservoir is pictured here in 1906, more than 25 years after it was built in 1879.

10. Strolling through Old Louisville

To me, this looks like a shot of Third Street in Old Louisville, although I could be wrong. Let me know where you think this is in the comments!

These old photos of Louisville, KY were originally posted on Youtube by user ReelNostalgia. Check out the slideshow below for other interesting pictures of Louisville in 1906:

Funny how much has changed - and how much remains the same - throughout the course of a century. Aren't these old pictures of Louisville, KY fascinating? If you have any historic Louisville photos be sure to share them with us on the OnlyInKentucky Facebook page.

If you are a true history buff, discover the history of Louisville in person with a walking tour through the historic center.

Keep traveling down memory lane with some of the oldest photos taken in Kentucky. You'll find historic photos of Louisville and other iconic places in the Bluegrass State that are a fascinating look at the way life used to be over a century ago.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kentucky/oldest-photos-kentucky/

For a fun look at some of our quirky phrases, watch this video where a non-Kentuckian tries to guess what the heck we mean when given a few unique words we often use in Kentucky: