Historic Photo Collection - Streets: Main Street

An old photo of a monument with a bas-relief, in a street with vintage buildings and a few pedestrians in the background.

Dexter Monument: Monument erected in memory of Captain Henry Dexter, riverboat pilot, who died in 1872; original location was at Main and Second Sts., and the monument is now located in Sunset Park (Deeds 50)

A black and white photo of an urban fountain with benches and a building in the background.

Horse Trough: Presented to the city in 1910 by the National Humane Alliance and later relocated to Main St. from its original site at Division St. and First Ave. (Marchand 312)

Historic black and white photo of a street scene with a horse-drawn carriage, a streetcar, and vintage buildings.

Main Street: View from Fourth St.; photo dated July 4, 1898 (Meyer-Schlamp 62)

Historic street with vintage buildings, cobblestone roads, and a few pedestrians.

Main Street: First block from Water St. (Riverside Dr.); Old State National Bank (with columns) is second building at left; c. 1880s (Hammond 1)

Historical city street scene with cars, horse-drawn carriages, and vintage buildings.

Main Street: View of block between Fifth and Sixth Sts. “prior to 1916” (Knecht 230)

Vintage snowy street with tram, cars, and a pedestrian.

Main Street: Photo dated December 19, 1929 (Knecht 2099)

Vintage photo of two people at a newsstand with "Buy a Home First" ads and "Red Spot Paint" signs, 1920s/30s feel, cars in background.

Main Street: Red Spot Paints kiosk; photo dated 1917 (Knecht 443)

Vintage street scene with old cars, classic signage, and buildings.

Main Street: Looking towards the new Civic Center; photo dated April 18, 1971 (18PC 64)

Nighttime view of an illuminated city street with vintage cars and neon signs, possibly mid-20th century.

Main Street: Night view; photo dated 1965 (Center City 47)

Historic street decorated with flags and banners, featuring tents, and signs for clothing sales. Old-time setting.

Main Street: Bargain Arcade; early 1900s (Riggs 12)

Vintage street scene with tramlines, old cars, and pedestrians, likely in early 20th century.

Main Street at Fifth Street: C. 1940s (Payne 45)

Vintage street scene with old cars, bus, signs for businesses like "BURT'S SHOES", and buildings. Likely mid-20th century.

Main Street at Fifth Street: Looking south from Fifth St.; 1945 (Knecht 2335)

Vintage street scene with old buildings, Hotel Lincoln, cars, and signage; likely early 20th century.

Main Street at Fifth Street: Photo dated 1923 (Knecht 4509)

Vintage street scene with tram tracks, old cars, and buildings.

Main Street at Fifth Street: Looking southeast towards Locust St.; c. 1920s (Cox 6)

May contain: city, road, street, urban, neighborhood, and person

Main Street at Fifth Street: C. 1920s (Cox 4)

Historic street with a tram, pedestrians, and old buildings. Vintage urban scene.

Main Street at Fifth Street: C. 1920 (Cox 5)

Vintage street scene with classic architecture and old cars. Black and white photo.

Main Street at First Street: Merchants Bank on the corner; photo dated 1947 (Knecht 814)

Historic black and white photo of a corner building with arched windows and a streetlight in the foreground.

Main Street at First Street: Northwest corner; early 1900s (Knecht 4542)

Historic street scene with vintage buildings, streetcar tracks, and old cars; early 20th-century vibe.

Main Street at Fourth Street: 1930s (Knecht 2354)

Vintage photo of an old building with a shop named "Metropole" and pedestrians on the sidewalk.

Main Street at Fourth Street: Photo dated 1921 (Knecht 1443)

Vintage photo of a tall building on a city street corner with cars and pedestrians.

Main Street at Fourth Street: Citizens National Bank; small building next to it is Kay Jewelers; c. 1960

Vintage street with old cars and historic buildings.

Main Street at Riverside Drive: Photo dated 1947 (Knecht 549)

Vintage street view with old buildings, signs for businesses like "Glidden" and cars parked along the curb, appearing historical.

Main Street at Riverside Drive: Looking towards First St.; photo dated 1947 (Knecht 4527)

A vintage photo of a man standing by a streetlamp with a sign, with a tram and old buildings in the background.

Main Street at Second Street: Officer Earl Gentry holds one of the first traffic signs in the city; photo dated 1918 (Knecht 785)

Historic black and white photo of a busy street with old cars, pedestrians, and a tram.

Main Street at Second Street: Looking towards Third St.; photo dated 1918-1919 (Knecht 4474)

Vintage street scene with people, a man tipping his hat, buildings in the background, and a stop sign.

Main Street at Second Street: Pedestrians pause at 12:30 for a 3-minute prayer as whistles blow and bells ring under a proclamation issued by Mayor Bosse in 1918 ; Clara Knecht is at left, while traffic officer Emmett Bell stands next to the stop sign (Knecht 1931)

Historic street lined with buildings, pedestrians, and early motor cars and horse-drawn carriages; likely early 20th century.

Main Street at Second Street: Looking towards Third St.; c. 1920 (Knecht 4546)

Vintage street scene with old buildings, cars, tram tracks, and a pedestrian.

Main Street at Second Street: C. 1930s (Knecht 4497)

Vintage street scene with a tram, cars, and old buildings. Black and white photo, evoking early to mid-20th century vibes.

Main Street at Second Street: Photo dated October 1936 (Knecht 4501)

A black and white photo of a vintage street scene with old buildings, cars, and pedestrians.

Main Street at Second Street: Looking towards Third St.; photo dated 1947 (Knecht 4548)

Historic street corner with vintage buildings and a person walking.

Main Street at Second Street: Photo dated 1923 (Knecht 4504)

Historic corner building housing a candy store & dentist offices, with a person standing by the entrance.

Main Street at Seventh Street: The Elks Candy Store; photo dated 1910 (Knecht 4028)

Old street with tram tracks, vintage buildings, and people in early 20th-century attire.

Main Street at Third Street Photo dated 1910 (Knecht 270)

Black and white photo of a vintage city street with old cars and storefronts.

Main Street at Third Street: Photo dated 1950 (Knecht 4482)

Historic street view with buildings, tram tracks, people, and a bicycle.

Main Street at Third Street: Later the site of National City Bank; photo dated January 1, 1914 (Knecht 4514)

Firefighters aiming high-pressure hoses at smoldering debris; tangled wires and destruction visible. Vintage scene.

Main Street: Fire January 1951 (Gaisser 7)

Black and white photo of a cityscape viewed through a frame, with people walking, buildings, and a plaza.

Main Street Walkway: View from Civic Center complex; c. 1980 (1PC 10)

Vintage street view with old buildings and cars, and advertisement for "Kenny Kent" dealer.

Main Street, 100 Block: C. 1960s (Knecht 346)

Vintage street scene with pedestrians, an old bus, classic cars, and retro signage.

Main Street, 100 Block: C. late 1940s (VC 87)

Vintage street scene with an old bus and cars, storefronts in the background. Black and white photo.

Main Street, 100 Block: Hermann’s Candy store is at right (VC 88)

Vintage street scene with old cars, buildings, and signage; possibly early 20th century.

Main Street, 100 Block: Looking towards the Ohio River; c. 1920s (Knecht 409)

Vintage street scene with old cars and historic buildings.

Main Street, 100 Block: Photo dated 1950 (Knecht 4488)

Vintage street scene with people, "Chop Suey" sign, and old cars.

Main Street, 100 Block: Members of the Evansville Courier staff standing in front of the newspaper office; the first four women are identified (l-r) as: Nell Overton, Jo Schneider, Frances Jerson (?), and Florence Meinhart; the man at far right is William Deeds, free-lance photog

Historic building with "Market Hall" sign, people on the balcony and street, vintage architecture, black and white photo.

Main Street, 19: Marble Hall, home of Herrmann & Bro. in the late 1800s; originally built as an auditorium in the 1850s and razed after the 1937 flood (Payne 27)

An old black and white photo of a city corner with a multi-story building housing shops like "Tom N Toms" and "Swinson Hats."

Main Street, 200 Block: C. 1950 (Meyer-Schlamp 370)

Historic building on a street corner with people outside, tram tracks in the foreground, and vintage signage.

Main Street, 200 Block: National City Bank; c. 1915 (Knecht 606)

A busy early 20th-century street scene with tram tracks, pedestrians, and vintage architecture.

Main Street, 200 Block: Early 1900s (Payne 34)

Vintage street scene with a tram, classic architecture, and several people.

Main Street, 200 Block: At corner is City National Bank (later, National City Bank); photo dated 1914 (Knecht 424)

Black and white photo of old buildings, a reflective windowed facade on the left, classic cars, and pedestrians on the sidewalk.

Main Street, 200 Block: Strouse & Bros. (left) and H. A. Woods Drug Store (right); photo dated October 1947 (Knecht 449)

Black and white photo of a vintage street with old buildings, road closed signs, and no visible people.

Main Street, 200 Block: Looking towards the Ohio River during construction of the new walkway; photo dated April 1971 (19PC 63)

Vintage street corner with classic buildings, cars, and pedestrians.

Main Street, 200 Block: Corner building (230 Main St.) was built c. 1855 as the Washington Hotel; more recently the site of the Farmer’s Daughter Restaurant; photo dated 1916 (Knecht 4464)

Vintage advertisement for Washington House hotel in Evansville, Indiana, mentioning amenities like a free omnibus and meals for travelers.

Main Street, 200 Block: Advertisement for Washington House on corner of Main and Third Sts., a hotel built in the 1850s (Meyer-Schlamp 431)

Old black and white photo of a busy street with vintage cars, trams, and historic buildings.

Main Street, 200 Block: Photo dated November 1937 (Knecht 3986)

Historic black-and-white photo of a street with old buildings, parked cars, and shops, possibly from early 20th century.

Main Street, 200 Block, Looking towards intersection of Main and Second Sts.; c. 1880s (Knecht 105)

Vintage street scene with old cars, buildings, and a sign reading "BESSEMER INN."

Main Street, 200 Block Photo dated 1950 (Knecht 4481)

Vintage photo of a city street with classic buildings, signage for Stein's clothing store, cars, and a "General Finance Loans" office.

Main Street, 228-230, The building on the corner opened in 1855 as the Washington House, a hotel; it has been occupied by many businesses over the years. The tall building behind it is the Vendome Hotel on NW Third St.; c. 1960 (Miscellaneous Collection)

Black and white street scene with old buildings, a restaurant sign, street lamps, and parked cars.

Main Street, 228-230, The Farmer’s Daughter Restaurant, originally the Washington House Hotel; built in 1855, it is Evansville’s oldest extant downtown building; c. 1971 (230 Main Street File)

A black and white photo of a city street corner with a vintage-looking restaurant and buildings.

Main Street, 228-230, Home of the Farmer’s Daughter Restaurant and WROZ radio station; photo dated 1984 (Marchand 1692)

Monochrome photo of historic buildings with retail shops at street level.

Main Street, 300 Block, C. 1940s (Meyer-Schlamp 368)

Vintage street view with buildings, a bank, cars, and signs; appears mid-20th century.

Main Street, 300 Block, C. 1950s (Donahue 5)

Vintage black and white photo of a tall building on a city street with cars and a few pedestrians.

Main Street, 300 Block, Citizens National Bank (tallest building) at center; Kresge Co. at left; c. 1950s (McCool 2)

Black and white photo of an old building facade with arched windows and decorative brickwork.

Main Street, 313, Detail of the Ridgeway Building; photo dated October 1985 (7PC 26)

Vintage street view with old cars and buildings.

Main Street, 400 Block: C. 1940s (Meyer-Schlamp 369)

A vintage street scene with tram tracks, early cars, and old buildings displaying signs.

Main Street, 400 Block: C. 1915 (Deeds 37)

An old black-and-white photo of a street with vintage buildings, a horse-drawn cart, and tram lines.

Main Street, 400 Block: The sign on the building at left reads: “The Old State National Bank will occupy a modern building on this site.” C. 1910 (Deeds 9)

Vintage street scene with buildings, scaffolding, an old car, and tram tracks.

Main Street, 400 Block: Construction of the new Old State National Bank; c. 1910 (Deeds 10)

Historic building with arched windows, columns, and ornamentation.

Main Street, 400 Block: C. 1920 (Knecht 4456)

Vintage street scene with a tram, classic cars, and old buildings.

Main Street, 400 Block: C. 1940 (Payne 44)

Vintage street scene with pedestrians and shops displaying signs and awnings. Black and white photo.

Main Street, 400 Block: West side of block; photo dated 1946 (Knecht 4499)

Black and white photo of a city street with old buildings, signs for "Hotel Lincoln," "Rainbow Shops," and pedestrians walking.

Main Street, 400 Block: C. 1960s (Payne 52)

Black and white photo of a street corner with a building showing a large sign "Sal's", another sign above, and a pedestrian walking by.

Main Street, 400-402: Salm’s department store; photo dated May 1970 (Marchand 1965)

A black and white photo of a building with a sign "The Jungle Gourmet Coffee House," a tree, and a person walking by.

Main Street, 415: Currently occupied by The Jungle Coffee House; photo dated 1999 (21PC 39)

Historic black-and-white photo of early 20th-century buildings with vintage cars and pedestrians.

Main Street, 416-420: Old State National Bank (left) and Lincoln Hotel; c. 1920 (Deeds 11)

Vintage city street scene with buildings, signs, and a car.

Main Street, 500 Block: C. 1960s (Meyer-Schlamp 476)

Vintage street scene with historic buildings, storefronts, and tram tracks.

Main Street, 500 Block: Looking towards Sixth St.; Savoy Theatre is in center of the block; early 1900s (Deeds 74)

A historic black-and-white photo of a street with a three-story building, tramlines, and vintage storefronts.

Main Street, 500 Block: William Hughes Building in center; early 1900s (Deeds 38)

Vintage street scene with classic buildings, marquees, and pedestrians.

Main Street, 500 Block: Main and Fifth Sts.; c. 1950 (Donahue 2)

Black and white photo of a vintage city street with J.C. Penney store, other shops, and road under construction.

Main Street, 500 Block: Construction of the new walkway; photo dated June 6, 1971 (19PC 67)

Historic street with tram, horse-drawn carriage, and classic architecture.

Main Street, 500 Block: American Trust & Savings Company is in the foreground; photo dated 1907 (Knecht 154)

Black and white photo of modern buildings, a street, a bare tree, and a person walking.

Main Street, 501: Union Federal Savings & Loan Co. building, c. 1980s (Marchand 2531)

Vintage photo of a storefront advertising millinery, cloaks, suits, with people passing by and examining display windows.

Main Street, 517-521: Salm’s Department Store; photo dated 1924 (Knecht 3248)

A vintage street scene with the Hotel Sonntag building, a theater marquee, classic cars, and adjacent businesses.

Main Street, 600 Block: Loew’s Theater and the Hotel Sonntag; c. 1940s (Donahue 4)

Urban construction site, torn up street, old buildings, marquee with movie titles, "Civic Plaza" in background, American flag.

Main Street, 600 Block: Construction of the walkway (new Civic Center is in background); photo dated April 18, 1971 (18PC 65)

Vintage street view showing "Willerding Bros. Gun & Cycle Repairing" shop with bicycles displayed out front.

Main Street, 600 Block: Photo dated August 15, 1910 (Knecht 880)

Old street corner with tram tracks, vintage car, pedestrians, and shops including a cigar store. Black & white photo.

Main Street, 700 Block: Boehne Building; c. 1920 (Deeds 34)

A vintage black and white photo of a main street with old cars, signage, buildings, and streetlights.

Main Street, 700 Block: C. 1960s (Payne 53)

Vintage street scene with trams, classic architecture, and overhead cables.

Main Street, 800 Block: The Imperial Hotel is at right (800-802 Main St.); photo dated 1916 (Knecht 683)

Black and white photo of an old building with "Coca-Cola" sign on top.

Main Street, 915-921: Former home of the Parsons & Scoville Co.; c. 1981 (Marchand 90)

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