This is such a historic town, and you can find evidence of Cincinnati's history all over the city. From old buildings to landmarks that remind us of what once was, it's easy to get caught up in the intriguing past of the Queen City. While it's nearly impossible to determine the oldest photos ever taken of our city, we've rounded up several that are all over 100 years old! The amazing thing is, while some of these photos look vastly different from today, many things still feel the same. Check out these old photos of Cincinnati, Ohio and see how many places you can recognize:
1. With the Cincinnati Red Stockings known as the first professional baseball team, there are bound to be a few old pictures of Cincinnati documenting their past. This is an old baseball card from 1888 of player John McPhee.
2. This may be a bit west of Cincinnati, but it was too incredible not to share! Shown is the great flood of 1884 in Lawrenceburg. Do you recognize any of the buildings that are still there today?
3. We have many parades downtown today, and this photo depicts one from 1904. It shows large crowds of people on the downtown blocks, viewing a procession of men parading down the center of the street.
4. Women's rights were a huge issue in 1908, and this photo shows a woman proudly posed in police uniform to demonstrate the concept of female police officers.
5. This destination still stands today. Have you ever visited the Cincinnati Art Museum? It's pictured here sometime between 1900 and 1910.
6. Today we gather at the riverfront and enjoy the parks, festivals, and fireworks. In the early 1900s, the banks were simply that - a dirt riverbank, often occupied by riverboats.
7. If you add modern day crowds and cars to this scene, not much has changed. This photo shows Fifth Street and Race Street. There are definitely a few recognizable buildings here in this historic Cincinnati photo.
8. Next we head downtown to Elm Street, complete with dirt road and horse and buggy. And do you recognize that landmark building down on the left?
9. The Tyler Davidson Fountain is still a popular gathering place today. It was dedicated back in 1871. This photo from the early 1900s shows its original location. In 2006, it was temporarily removed while the square was renovated, and reinstalled a little further back from the street.
10. Music Hall in the early 1900s looks much the same as it does now, especially after its extensive recent renovations. This stunning building was completed in 1878 and remains one of the most-loved structures in our city.
11. This photo shows a trolley system heading up a hill from downtown.
12. Everyone knows the views of downtown from Mt. Adams are superb. It was no different around 1900, as this photo from the top of the incline shows!
13. If you don't recognize this lake, maybe the dome in the background rings a bell? The historic elephant house at the Cincinnati Zoo was built in 1906 and this photo shows it at about that time.
14. Finally, the Mt. Adams Incline was a sensible solution to get from the bottom to the top of this large hill. In this old picture of Cincinnati, you can also see the historic Rookwood Pottery building that still anchors the hill today.
You could spend all day looking at old photos of Cincinnati, Ohio, imagining what life was once like in our city. It's incredible to think that in 100 years, Cincinnatians will look back at our photos and marvel at our way of life. What do you think of these historic Cincinnati photos? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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