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Illinois History

What Illinois' Major Cities Looked Like In the 1940s May Shock You. Chicago Especially.

By Laura | Published April 05, 2016

Life sure looked different in 1940. Check out these old photos of Illinois from the 1940s. The shots of Chicago will surprise you.

1. A man walks down Clark Street in Chicago in 1940.

2. Women approach a news stand in Chicago in 1940.

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3. People wait for a streetcar in downtown Chicago.

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4. A man and his three children wait to cross the street in July 1940 in Chicago.

5. A crowd walks down State Street in Chicago in 1940.

6. Ladies walk down the stairs of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1940.

7. This is what a 1940s cafeteria in Chicago looked like.

8. A shoemaker stands on the street in 1940.

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9. A woman speaks with a policeman in Chicago in 1940.

10. Ladies seek refuge from the heat in a 1940s movie theater.

11. This is a shot of bustling Michigan Avenue in 1940.

12. This was an Easter procession in 1941.

13. A man with a junk cart looks for finds in the south side of Chicago in 1941.

As always, if you have old photos of Illinois, be sure to share them on the Only in Illinois Facebook page!

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