Here Are Some Of The Oldest Photos Ever Taken In Louisville And They’re Incredible
×
Myan Mai
Author
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 photographs taken more than a century ago in 1906. I hope you enjoy these old photographs of our incredible city as much as I did. Be sure to check out this video by ReelNostalgia on Youtube, who originally posted these photos.
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.
Advertisement
This article written by Erica Peterson is an interesting piece on the history of Louisville's streetcar system. 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.
Advertisement
The newspaper actually went bankrupt twice, and the owner finally decided to call it quits the second time around.
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.
Related Stories
This Is What Louisville Looked Like 100 Years Ago And It May Surprise You
Some People Don’t Know That Louisville Was The First To Do These 12 Things
12 Ways Living In Louisville Ruins You For Life
The beautiful entrance to the Cave Hill cemetery remains unchanged. The cemetery was founded in 1848, and this entrance was built in 1892.
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.
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.
Advertisement
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.
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 images were originally posted on Youtube by user ReelNostalgia. Check out the slideshow below for other interesting pictures of Louisville in 1906:
These images 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 decade. Aren’t these old photographs of Louisville fascinating?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.