7 Nostalgic Photos Of Downtown Indianapolis At Christmastime

Do you ever wonder what Christmas was like decades ago in Indianapolis? Do you long for the Christmases you used to have, before the internet and online shopping took over the holiday season? We stumbled upon these 7 nostalgic Christmas images in the city that show just how magical Christmases of yesteryear were.

1. The Statehouse - 1944

Here's a shot of the statehouse on a gorgeous snowy day in 1944. Not too much has changed about this building since then, but doesn't this image just have you imagining strolling the city streets while Christmas music swells around you?

2. The City Market - 1923

Wow, look how different the Indianapolis City Market looks back in the early 1920s! Some things never change though - it's still a great place to find unique Christmas gifts.

3. Woodruff Place - 1897

Here's a snowy, but jolly shot of Woodruff Place from 1897. It must have been a white Christmas for Hoosiers this year!

4. Anonymous Chimney - 1947

This fun shot of Santa crawling down a chimney was taken in 1947. I bet the kids were extremely excited to see this!

5. Downtown Indy - 1923

The hustle and bustle of the city in 1923 somehow seems crazier than today's downtown foot traffic. It must be the convenience of online shopping (or maybe the popularity of cars).

6. L. S. Ayres - 1940

Uh oh! The L. S. Ayres Santa is caught taking a quick nap. Though, he probably needed that rest after seeing hundreds of eager and excited kids.

7. Monument Circle - 1926

Wow! The lights on the circle 90 years ago looked very different than they do today. It's definitely no Circle of Lights, but it was still clearly the place to celebrate!

Tell us about some of your most nostalgic Christmases in Indy! To get into the holiday spirit, be sure to do everything on this epic Indianapolis Christmastime bucket list.