Cincinnati - Then and Now (002)

This is the second post in a series comparing historic "street view" to current Google Street Views (visit the first here). There are thousands of photos available online thanks to the Ohio Digital Resource Commons.

1.

Looking west from the corner of Elm and Eighth, toward City Hall, September 19, 1930. I couldn't find much on old maps as to what the big dome across from City Hall was.

2.

The approximate spot currently, as seen on Google Street View.

3.

Looking East near the corner of 12th and Central Parkway, toward Washington Park, October 2, 1929.

4.

A similar spot observed recently on Google Street View (albeit before the recent renovation of Washington Park was complete).

5.

The archive has dozens of photos of the construction of the Fifth Street Viaduct that takes Columbia Parkway into downtown. Lock Street no longer exists, but in 1938 it ran parallel to Eggleston Avenue, and Columbia Parkway soared overhead.

6.

Today, I-471 runs where the neighborhood at the base of Mt. Adams previously existed.

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Cincinnati - Then and Now (001)

Thanks to the efforts of the Ohio Digital Resource Commons, thousands of photos taken of Cincinnati's street improvements during the 1920's and 1930's are viewable online. The changes that occur over the course of 80+ years are rather interesting. Thanks to Google Street View, it's possible to quickly compare the photos taken almost a century ago with the city as it exists today.

There are thousands of these street improvement photos available. I'll start by comparing a few of the more recognizable spots around Cincinnati. While some areas have seen little change, most of the photos show stark contrasts between the Cincinnati of the 1920's and the Cincinnati we know today.

1.

Looking north along Vine Street from the intersection of Clifton Avenue - August 10, 1931.

2.

The same spot currently, as seen on Google Street View.

3.

The corner of William Howard Taft and Vine Street, looking west in 1942

4.

William Howard Taft and Vine Street, looking west, as seen on Google Street View. Much has changed, including the steeples of St. George, damaged during the fire in 2008.

5.

In some places, almost nothing has remained the same. Here, looking west from the corner of 5th and Walnut in 1928 the Sheraton-Gibson Hotel and Albee Theater are both visible along Fountain Square. Not yet visible would be Carew Tower - construction began the year after this photo was taken.

6.

Google Street View today shows that little has remained, US Bank, the Westin, and Carew Tower have been built, and even Fountain Square has since gone through two major renovations.

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