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Historic Photo Collection - Views of Evansville and the Tri-State

Old black and white photo of a rural landscape with houses and sparse vegetation.
Babytown (Reitz Hill): View of the West Side, looking towards the Marine Hospital (left), which was located at 2700 W. Illinois St. Behind that, on a hill, is the orphanage, and a brickyard lies in the foreground; c. late 19th-century (Riggs Collection)
Aerial view of an urban area with dense housing, large buildings, and parking lots. Black and white photo.
Deaconess Hospital Neighborhood: View towards the west from hospital complex; St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, near intersection of First Ave. and Columbia St., is visible in top right; photo dated September 1986 (Deaconess 1)
A vintage black and white photo of an open field with historic buildings and tall towers in the background.
Downtown: The Vanderburgh County Courthouse is at left, and Central High School’s tower is visible at the right; c. 1960 (Meyer-Schlamp 507)
Historic black and white photo of an old cityscape with a prominent domed building and various other structures.
Downtown: Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse in background (view towards the intersection of Fourth and Vine Sts.); early 1900s (Knecht 3192)
A vintage black and white photo of an industrial townscape with buildings, smokestacks, and old advertisements.
Downtown: Looking towards the (south)east; the F. W. Cook Brewing Co. (flag flying atop its tower), located on Seventh St., can be seen in the distance (Deeds 49)
Black and white photo of a river landscape with mist, a boat dock and some industrial buildings in the distance.
Downtown: View of downtown (center background) from far west side of city (lumber yard in foreground by the river); photo dated December 6, 1928 (Meyer-Schlamp 185)
Historic black and white photo of a 19th-century town with buildings and scattered trees.
Downtown: Setchell Stables on NW Second Street is in the foreground; view looks southwest; c. 1880 (Hammond 8)
Black and white photo of a river bend, buildings along the shore, and vegetation in the foreground.
Downtown: View of the city (in hazy distance) from the far west side; early 1900s (Knecht 3816)
Aerial view of a river with a boat near a city waterfront, showcasing buildings, docks, and urban landscape.
Downtown: Barge headed toward the riverfront (old Courthouse in upper left corner); photo dated 1985 (7PC 51)
A black and white aerial view of urban buildings, possibly from mid-20th century, with visible smoke in the center.
Downtown: Aftermath of a fire in 1951 (smoke in center) on Main St. between Third and Fourth Sts.; Shear’s Department Store is in the center foreground (Knecht 885)
Old photo of a city street with buildings and vintage cars, possibly from early-to-mid 20th century, foggy background.
Downtown: View from Third St., looking towards the river; c. 1920s (Knecht 4493)
Black and white aerial view of a vintage town with buildings, including a theater, and a church spire in the background.
Downtown: View from Citizens Bank on Main St., looking southeast (St. Mary’s Catholic Church at upper right); photo dated 1928 (Gaisser 12)
Aerial view of an urban area with buildings, roads, and vehicles.
Downtown: General area where the Civic Center now is: Seventh St. (now Martin Luther King Dr.) runs through center of image; old Central High School at lower left; c. 1950s (Knecht 151)
Black and white aerial view of an urban area with buildings, streets, and shadows indicating bright sunlight.
Downtown: View towards the southeast, with the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse in center; c. 1920s (Knecht 1009)
Historic black & white photo of a dense urban area with industrial smokestacks and a church spire.
Downtown: View towards the east; Central High School is at lower left, Assumption Church (Seventh St.) near the center, and to right of church is Cook’s Brewery (white smokestack); c. 1930s (Meyer-Schlamp 99)
Historic cityscape with buildings, a spired church, and a clock tower visible in the background.
Downtown: Central Union Bank (later, the Hulman-Vectren Building) on NW Fourth St.; the Old Courthouse, Court Building, and Sears Company can be seen at right; c. 1930 (Knecht 791)
Historic black and white photo of a densely built cityscape with multiple buildings from an aerial perspective.
Downtown: View towards the southeast; the roof of the Hulman-Vectren building is at lower left, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church is visible at upper right; c. 1930s (Meyer-Schlamp 100)
An old, grainy cityscape with multiple buildings, possibly industrial, near a river. Vintage photograph.
Downtown: Looking towards the Ohio River (photo from a book published in April 1932 by the City Planning Publishing Co., Boston)
A black and white photo of an old town skyline with church steeples and industrial smoke.
Downtown: Central High School tower visible at left; to right is Assumption Catholic Church steeple; photo dated October 18, 1928 (Bolin 3)
A black and white photo of a city skyline at night, with reflections on water.
Downtown: View from Reitz Hill at night; photo dated 1983 (Center City 23)
Historic black and white photo of an old cityscape with various buildings and a view of a water body in the distance.
Downtown: St. Mary’s Catholic Church steeple at left; the new McCurdy Hotel under construction (center, near the river); c. 1916 (Payne 31)
Historic rooftop weather station with instruments, railing, and foggy city background.
Downtown: Looking towards Main St. from the roof of the Post Office and Customs House; building also housed the U. S. Weather Bureau quarters; c. 1917 (Post Office 43)
Historic town overlooking a river with a church spire, industrial buildings, and smokestacks. Black & white photo.
Downtown (Part 1 of 2): Looking towards the Ohio River, probably from the top of the Courthouse (Holy Trinity Church tower in center of photo); c. 1935 (Knecht 3453)
Historic aerial view of a cityscape with buildings, streets, and a river in the background.
Downtown (Part 2 of 2): Looking towards the west (Mead Johnson Terminal and Reitz Hill visible in background); c. 1935 (Knecht 3453)
Aerial view of a dense urban area with buildings, roads, and possible railway tracks.
Downtown-East Side: Main St. (center street) curves to the left; near center are the old CE&I railroad station and depot; Assumption Cathedral and F. W. Cook Brewing Co. are in lower left; c. 1960s (VC 34)
Historic black and white photo of an urban skyline with prominent building under construction and a large dome in the background.
Downtown-Near North Side: The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse, Court building, and Sears building (under construction in foreground); c. 1925 (Willard Library Collection)
Aerial view of an industrial area with buildings, roads, and surrounding residential blocks.
Downtown-Near North Side: NW Riverside Dr. (bottom) turns into Fulton Ave. at left, with Division St. intersecting middle of picture; c. 1960 (Fitzgerald 78)
Aerial view of a grand historic courthouse with domes, surrounded by streets and buildings. Black and white photo.
Downtown-Near North Side: Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse in foreground; photo dated 1986 (8PC-96)
Aerial view of a bridge spanning over a river with surrounding farmland.
Evansville-Henderson Bridge: C. 1940 (Knecht 886)
Old black and white photo of a residential area with houses and bare trees, possibly winter, with an industrial backdrop.
First Avenue and Franklin Street: View looking southeast towards downtown Evansville, taken from the roof of the Crescent Furniture Co.; pre-1910 (Sabel 11)
Aerial view of a landscape with fields, roads, and structures, possibly an airport or racetrack. Black and white photo.
Highway 41 (North): Airport and present-day Whirlpool factory visible in upper left; Sunset Drive-In Theater (white area), upper right; c. 1950s (Winterman 62)
Aerial view of a railway yard with tracks, buildings, and some roads.
L & N Railroad Depot: Fulton Ave. at NW Second St. (depot in upper right of intersection); c. 1930s (Miscellaneous Collection 593)
Aerial view of a construction site near residential area.
Lawndale Shopping Center: The Lawndale shopping center under construction in the mid-1950s; the street in the foreground is Green River Rd. View looks toward the northeast. (Worthington 2)
Aerial view of a construction site with surrounding houses and open fields.
Lawndale Shopping Center: The Lawndale shopping center under construction in the mid-1950s, looking towards the southwest and showing the rear of the development (Worthington 3)
Aerial view of a township with residential areas, roads, and fields.
Lawndale Shopping Center: Overhead view of the newly-opened Lawndale shopping center (center) on Green River Rd.; the large field at the right is where Washington Square Mall was built a short time later; c. late 1950s (Worthington 4)
Aerial view of a residential area with a canal, labeled streets, and surrounding infrastructure.
Lincoln Gardens Site: View of area cleared for construction of the Lincoln Gardens housing project (Lincoln High School is in foreground); photo dated 1937 (Knecht 780)
A vintage black and white photo of a rural landscape with houses on a hill and a wooden fence.
Methodist Hill (Newburgh, IN): Looking north from the Ohio River; early 1900s (Knecht 4831)
Aerial view of a coastal town with a grid layout, buildings, and a dock with a ship.
Mt. Vernon, Indiana: The commercial and residential areas near the riverfront; the County Courthouse is at the center of picture; c. 1940s (VC 35)
A historic black and white photo of a riverside settlement with buildings amidst abundant trees.
Newburgh, Indiana: Looking east towards Evansville down the Ohio River; c. 1915 (Knecht 5073)
Aerial view of an airport with multiple runways and surrounding fields.
North Side: The Republic Aviation plant (under construction) is visible at center left, and the airport is at center right; 1942 (Marchand 16)
Aerial view of an airport with crossing runways, surrounding fields, and roads. (Black & white)
North Side-Airport: Airport located between Highway 41 (left) and runway; c. 1940s (VC 52)
An aerial black-and-white photo depicting a landscape with labeled roads, an area marked "OAK HILL," and annotations, by Ray Forrester.
Oak Hill Cemetery: View of region around Oak Hill Cemetery; c. 1920s (Knecht 2110)
Vintage photo of a riverside landscape with cars parked along a fence.
Ohio River: View of the river taken from a window at Reitz High School; a section of the student parking lot is visible at left; c. 1940s (Reitz 13)
A black and white photo showing a river bank with debris, a jetty, industrial buildings in the distance, and a billboard.
Ohio River and West Side: View from the riverfront, looking towards the Mead Johnson Terminal (right) and the West Side; the SIGECO plant is in the distance at left (Reitz 15)
Historical bird's-eye view of a city with grid streets, prominent oval-shaped park, riverfront, and a steamboat on the water.
Pigeon Creek-West Side: Pigeon Creek, bounded by W. Franklin St. to the north, Eighth Ave. (west), and Seventh Ave. (east), where it empties into the Ohio River; c. 1888 (Marchand 1027)
Vintage cars parked by a river, people walking on a grassy area with trees, and industrial smoke in the background.
Reitz Hill and Ohio River: View of parking lot at Reitz High School, looking towards the Ohio River and downtown Evansville; the Mead Johnson Terminal is visible in upper left; c. 1940 (Miscellaneous 1676)
Aerial view of a coastline city with buildings, streets, and docks with ships. Vintage black and white photo.
Riverfront: Photo dated 1919 (Knecht 871)
Black and white photo of a river landscape with trees in the foreground and a city skyline in the distance.
Riverfront: View from across the Ohio River; c. 1916-1923 (Knecht 3796)
Aerial view of an urban area with grid streets, buildings of various sizes, and a waterfront.
Riverfront and Downtown: Photo dated 1960 (Fitzgerald 2)
Aerial view of an industrial area with buildings next to a street, extending into a residential area, with clear skies above.
Stringtown-North Garvin Street: Foreground: former Graham Bros./Chrysler-Plymouth Plant buildings; c. 1950s (Fitzgerald 7)
Black and white photo of an industrial waterfront with trees in the foreground and smokestacks in the distance.
View from Reitz Hill: Photo taken from a window at Reitz High school in the 1940s; in the foreground is the SIGECO plant (Reitz 14)
Aerial view of a coastal industrial facility with a tall chimney, near a residential area.
Water Works Plant: C. 1940s (VC 46)
Aerial view of a solitary industrial facility near a large body of water with surrounding land and roads.
Water Works Plant: Looking south across the Ohio River towards Kentucky; c. 1940s (VC 47)
A vintage black-and-white photo of an industrial area with a tall chimney, buildings, and leafless trees. A person is visible in the foreground.
West Side: Looking northeast from Reitz Hill; c. 1930s-1940s (Meyer-Schlamp 1033)
Historic photo of a town with stacks of lumber in the foreground.
West Side: Lumberyard in foreground; c. 1890s-1910 (Riggs 10)
Aerial view of a tree-lined road, buildings, a river, and urban infrastructure.
West Side: Preparations for the pavement and extension of Highway 62 west of St. Joseph Ave.; the arrow (foreground) designates the Barker Ave. overpass; photo dated June 23, 1956 (Knecht 697)
A black and white aerial view of an old town with houses, trees, and a central road.
West Side: Looking east from the tower of Centennial School; the street in the center of the image is probably Illinois or Indiana Street.; late 1800s (Miscellaneous Photo Album)
Scenic view through foliage, overlooking a landscape with buildings in the distance, black and white photograph.
West Side: Spires of St. Boniface Church visible in the distance; c. 1920s – 1930s (Henry Meyer Collection)
Black and white photo of a rural landscape with trees and open land.
West Side: Mesker Park area; c. 1930 (Knecht 1468)
Aerial view of a Victorian-style house next to a highway and urban area at dusk.
Willard Library: Willard Library and Park (center), one block north of the Lloyd Expressway (right) on First Ave.; behind the library is Berry Plastics Co.; to the left is Illinois St. and the old Boys & Girls Club building; c. 2005 (Willard Library 440)
Old black and white photo of a rural landscape with houses and sparse vegetation.
Aerial view of an urban area with dense housing, large buildings, and parking lots. Black and white photo.
A vintage black and white photo of an open field with historic buildings and tall towers in the background.
Historic black and white photo of an old cityscape with a prominent domed building and various other structures.
A vintage black and white photo of an industrial townscape with buildings, smokestacks, and old advertisements.
Black and white photo of a river landscape with mist, a boat dock and some industrial buildings in the distance.
Historic black and white photo of a 19th-century town with buildings and scattered trees.
Black and white photo of a river bend, buildings along the shore, and vegetation in the foreground.
Aerial view of a river with a boat near a city waterfront, showcasing buildings, docks, and urban landscape.
A black and white aerial view of urban buildings, possibly from mid-20th century, with visible smoke in the center.
Old photo of a city street with buildings and vintage cars, possibly from early-to-mid 20th century, foggy background.
Black and white aerial view of a vintage town with buildings, including a theater, and a church spire in the background.
Aerial view of an urban area with buildings, roads, and vehicles.
Black and white aerial view of an urban area with buildings, streets, and shadows indicating bright sunlight.
Historic black & white photo of a dense urban area with industrial smokestacks and a church spire.
Historic cityscape with buildings, a spired church, and a clock tower visible in the background.
Historic black and white photo of a densely built cityscape with multiple buildings from an aerial perspective.
An old, grainy cityscape with multiple buildings, possibly industrial, near a river. Vintage photograph.
A black and white photo of an old town skyline with church steeples and industrial smoke.
A black and white photo of a city skyline at night, with reflections on water.
Historic black and white photo of an old cityscape with various buildings and a view of a water body in the distance.
Historic rooftop weather station with instruments, railing, and foggy city background.
Historic town overlooking a river with a church spire, industrial buildings, and smokestacks. Black & white photo.
Historic aerial view of a cityscape with buildings, streets, and a river in the background.
Aerial view of a dense urban area with buildings, roads, and possible railway tracks.
Historic black and white photo of an urban skyline with prominent building under construction and a large dome in the background.
Aerial view of an industrial area with buildings, roads, and surrounding residential blocks.
Aerial view of a grand historic courthouse with domes, surrounded by streets and buildings. Black and white photo.
Aerial view of a bridge spanning over a river with surrounding farmland.
Old black and white photo of a residential area with houses and bare trees, possibly winter, with an industrial backdrop.
Aerial view of a landscape with fields, roads, and structures, possibly an airport or racetrack. Black and white photo.
Aerial view of a railway yard with tracks, buildings, and some roads.
Aerial view of a construction site near residential area.
Aerial view of a construction site with surrounding houses and open fields.
Aerial view of a township with residential areas, roads, and fields.
Aerial view of a residential area with a canal, labeled streets, and surrounding infrastructure.
A vintage black and white photo of a rural landscape with houses on a hill and a wooden fence.
Aerial view of a coastal town with a grid layout, buildings, and a dock with a ship.
A historic black and white photo of a riverside settlement with buildings amidst abundant trees.
Aerial view of an airport with multiple runways and surrounding fields.
Aerial view of an airport with crossing runways, surrounding fields, and roads. (Black & white)
An aerial black-and-white photo depicting a landscape with labeled roads, an area marked "OAK HILL," and annotations, by Ray Forrester.
Vintage photo of a riverside landscape with cars parked along a fence.
A black and white photo showing a river bank with debris, a jetty, industrial buildings in the distance, and a billboard.
Historical bird's-eye view of a city with grid streets, prominent oval-shaped park, riverfront, and a steamboat on the water.
Vintage cars parked by a river, people walking on a grassy area with trees, and industrial smoke in the background.
Aerial view of a coastline city with buildings, streets, and docks with ships. Vintage black and white photo.
Black and white photo of a river landscape with trees in the foreground and a city skyline in the distance.
Aerial view of an urban area with grid streets, buildings of various sizes, and a waterfront.
Aerial view of an industrial area with buildings next to a street, extending into a residential area, with clear skies above.
Black and white photo of an industrial waterfront with trees in the foreground and smokestacks in the distance.
Aerial view of a coastal industrial facility with a tall chimney, near a residential area.
Aerial view of a solitary industrial facility near a large body of water with surrounding land and roads.
A vintage black-and-white photo of an industrial area with a tall chimney, buildings, and leafless trees. A person is visible in the foreground.
Historic photo of a town with stacks of lumber in the foreground.
Aerial view of a tree-lined road, buildings, a river, and urban infrastructure.
A black and white aerial view of an old town with houses, trees, and a central road.
Scenic view through foliage, overlooking a landscape with buildings in the distance, black and white photograph.
Black and white photo of a rural landscape with trees and open land.
Aerial view of a Victorian-style house next to a highway and urban area at dusk.