Beautiful, Historic Photos of Cincinnati

by OTR on August 20, 2012, 59 comments

Central Parkway looking west (flickr / annareid86420)

Recently, someone joined the photo-sharing site flickr with the username of annareid86420. This person uploaded a gorgeous set of 29 breathtaking photos of historic Cincinnati. I sent the person a message via flickr several weeks ago but have yet to hear back. I’d love to know more about the photos and photographer so as to give them proper credit and date the photos.

Update: The photographs in this post were taken by noted Cincinnati photographer Paul Briol. The Cincinnati Museum Center will have an exhibit of Paul Briol’s photographs this fall, opening on October 1, 2012 as part of Cincinnati’s FOTOFOCUS celebration. Read more about Paul Briol here.

In the meantime, enjoy these great glimpses into the Queen City’s past and please feel free to comment:

 

Race Street, Philippus Kirche (flickr / annareid86420). Notice the Bellevue Incline in the background

Mount Adams looking at downtown (flickr / annareid86420)

Skyline at night (flickr / annareid86420)

Vine Street (flickr / annareid86420)

Krohn Conservatory (flickr / annareid86420)

Looking out from the Library, Piatt Park (flickr / annareid86420)

Up to Mount Adams (flickr / annareid86420)

Music Hall (flickr / annareid86420)

Anderson Ferry (flickr / annareid86420)

Coney Island (flickr / annareid86420)

Sycamore Street hill (flickr / annareid86420)

Coney Island (flickr / annareid86420)

Roebling Suspension Bridge (flickr / annareid86420)

Plum Street Temple, Saint Peter In Chains Cathedral, and St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral (flickr / annareid86420)

Union Terminal (flickr / annareid86420)

Crosley Field (flickr / annareid86420)

Central Parkway looking west (flickr / annareid86420)

Fountain Square (flickr / annareid86420)

University of Cincinnati (flickr / annareid86420)

Fountain Square (flickr / annareid86420)

Sycamore Street hill (flickr / annareid86420)

Rookwood Pottery (flickr / annareid86420)

Ohio River (flickr / annareid86420)

Lytle Park (flickr / annareid86420)

Ohio River (flickr / annareid86420)

Ohio River steamboat (flickr / annareid86420)

Government Square (flickr / annareid86420)

Union Terminal (flickr / annareid86420)

Lunken Airport, (flickr / annareid86420)

  • Brandon Druffel

    I think the one labeled as Wash Park is actually Lytle park. Isn’t that the Anna Louise Inne in the left corner?

    • overtherhine

      You’re right. I’ve corrected the caption. The image on flickr says Washington Park.

  • Jon

    Many, if not all, of these are by Paul Briol.

    • OTR

      Thanks, Jon! I updated the post.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1253117827 Brad Smith

      all of them

  • http://www.facebook.com/marijo.oconnell Marijo O’Connell

    Wonderful. Thanks for posting these photos.

  • Fleep Tuque

    Fantastic photos, thanks for sharing!

  • Alex

    Is the unlabeled photo of the tudor building the former Rookwood Pottery factory?

    • OTR

      Yes, it is. I just added the caption. I didn’t know I missed it. Thanks.

  • http://5chw4r7z.com 5chw4r7z

    The picture of Piatt Park confused me for a moment. They haved the statues at some point because Harrison is at the opposite end now at Elm.

    • OTR

      Yeah, it had me confused too. I wonder when the statues were moved.

  • OTR

    That’s awful!

  • Karen

    Brings back memories even though the pictures look like the late 30′s. I do remember being in a Model-T and nearly falling out on 4th St. as my mother “took the corner” and the car door flew open! Don’t know why she was driving that old car! kk

    • http://www.facebook.com/bob.wolfe.773 Bob Wolfe

      Judging from the photos with cars and trucks the time frame has to be no later than 1935 since the pic looking west on Central shows one car that appears to be a 35 Ford coupe

  • Josh

    Mt Adams actually did look European then!

    • OTR

      So many chimney pots!

  • jodan436

    Would love to know the dates.

    • Jim Gels

      Judging from cars on the streets, I would offer an opinion that this was the early to mid thirties

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  • Linda Bremar

    Love them. I miss Cincinnati.

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  • wch

    I find it interesting that there are very few trees in many of the photographs. Most striking is the view of Mt Adams. From this perspective, Cincinnati is a more beautiful city today than it was in the 20s and 30s.

  • jennifer k

    love old photos

  • http://www.facebook.com/DADIEO Kevin Leonard Looby

    GREAT !!

  • Karyn Robinson

    I have always had a passion for history and as a television producer in Cincinnati many years ago I often spent time at Cincinnati’s Historical Society. If you’re looking for a great way to spend an afternoon make plans to visit. I live in Phoenix now and this really made me miss home.
    http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/?tab=artworkgalleries

  • Antoinette (Ludwig) Keliher

    I do miss Cincinnati. Living in Nashville gives me and my family a chance to return to the Queen City for family and baseball. These photos are wonderful. Thanks for giving my memory a jolt.

  • trippybeth

    Gorgeous photos! I am not a native, but i love Cincinnati!

  • Sgtrdn

    The photo of Ohio River looking towards downtown had to have been taken from Mt Echo park

  • http://twitter.com/BrowsingAtlas Julie Wetz

    These are gorgeous. I love CIncinnati. :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/steven.eggers.798 Steven Eggers

    Wonderful photos! Spent 30 years as a police officer in Cincinnati. I recognized every vista. Surprisingly, many of those buildings are still here.

  • http://www.facebook.com/kimberly.newman.906 Kimberly Newman

    Great Pics! Reminds me of photos my grandmother had. Too bad there were no pictures of the 1937 flood.

  • richard beziat

    Old Coney Island..!! if anyone has a photo of the “Moonlite Gardens” dance hall at old Coney, please enter it..!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=655007733 Dennis Latham

    I saw someone jump off the Carew Tower when I was about 12 and waiting for a bus on Fountain Square, when the statue was in the middle of the street. People were pointing up, and everyone watching. They never made it to the street but hit Pogues on their roof. I saw Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis do a stage show at the Albee Theater when I was about four year old. They came out the side door and my father put me on his shoulders, and they both shook my hand. They looked like kids themselves.

  • Linda Kendall Matus

    Cincinnati is my hometown, and I still unabashedly love her, though I’ve lived away for more than three decades. These photos were taken before my time, but the landmarks were still largely there during my childhood, and the sight of them elicits nothing but warm memories. Thank you for sharing.

  • essyell

    i too have lived away from cincinnati for more than 3 decades, but she will always be home to me… the pics of coney island and crosley field bring back sooooo many wonderful childhood memories… i miss cincy!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/pauline.eikel Pauline Eikel

    What a JOY to see these photos. I only wish there were more – especially of the Ohio River from Mt. Echo Park – that is the very best view of the river and the City. Thanks to whoever is responsible for putting these on the web.

  • leschar

    Great photos of a time of our history. To bad people don’t appreciate the past and what it has given to us thru their hard work.

  • FIREKIL

    I GOT ALL BUT 2 RIGHT TELLS YOU HOW OLD I AM UGH !!!!

  • FIREKIL

    WERE YOU RELATED TO RAY EGGERS?

  • Lyndsey

    It would be neat to do a side-by-side of them and today from the same view. Probably a little sad too.

  • Mary Collins

    Could the picture of the Ohio River Steamer be the Island Queen that took us to Coney Island every summer? What great memories, these pictures are a gem! Thank you for posting them!

    • http://www.facebook.com/bob.wolfe.773 Bob Wolfe

      Not The Island Queen as The Island queen was not a Stern Wheeler but had the drive wheels on the sides

  • Dennis Minshall

    Been gone fo 50 years. Sure does bring back memories. How about some pictures of all the past Ohio Presidents statues in downtown Cinti.
    Dennis Minshall
    minshall@bellsouth.net

  • Brenda Keller

    OMG! Talk about bringing back memories…haven’t lived in Cincy since 1980, but these bring back all the memories. Thank you whoever compiled these pics. Brings back mt childhood.

  • Margery Griffith

    At nearly 82 I can relate to all of these great photos. No longer live in Cinci but it will forever be ‘home’ to me and i’ll always miss being there other than in mid winter! What a mistake tearing down the Albee! Thanks for sharing memories!

  • Nora Kelly

    Thanks for sharing. Wish I had one more photo to complete these photos from the days of the streetcar running up Vine ~~ our great Cincinnati Zoo from that era that housed the Kemper Log Home. The Kempers on my mothers side of the family were my first ancestors that lived in the area ~ on Walnut Hill Farm prior to the small dwelling being moved to the zoo many years later. Will have to dig in old family albums to find some of these!

  • http://www.facebook.com/altozup Mary Jo Zupsic

    I was looking for one or possibly both inclines. The one leading to Mt. Adams I rode many a time going to the Art Museum. I lived close to the Price Hill Incline going up from 8th & State. thanks for sharing so many wonderful old photos.

  • http://www.facebook.com/robert.paquette.33 Robert Paquette

    These are beautiful photos – really can’t get enough of them. I miss the buildings and inclines and hate what the widening of Liberty did to the streetscape. These are from the 30′s to those still inquiring about dates. Look at the cars…

  • Vera

    Cincinnati is my hometown, I no longer live there but have fond memories of Coney Island! Thank you for sharing.

  • Martha Lunken

    Loved the American DC-3 at Lunken Airport. Notice the line of trees in the background. This was the course of the Little Miami River before it was “rerouted” to accomodate a new, longer runway in the early ’60′s.

    Grew up in Cincinnati in the ’40′s and ’50′s (after most of these were taken) but sure remember downtown looking this way, Crosley Field, Coney and the Anderson Ferry,

  • Ann H. Brown

    Left Cincy in ’53 when I married. Go “home” as often as I can for class reunions and to see family. I try to explain inclines to friends. While these photos were taken in my lifetime and I remember most of these places I was a bit young at the time. I’m with the person who mentioned the Albee. It was the best of many beautiful theaters in the city. It is a great city. I’m glad I grew up there.
    Ann H. Brown

  • Bob Schaefer

    I love ‘em all! In particular, the old AA DC-3 at Lunken reminds me of the times my Mother & Father took me down to Lunken to watch the planes take off & land. The DC-3s were the big attraction! And what a great pic of the Rookwood Pottery Bldg! It looks like a scene out of a Johnny Depp movie!

  • Jackie Wetterstroem DeWitt

    What a wonderful trip down memory lane. That could have been me on the diving board at Old Coney Sunlite Pool. haha I’ve lived in here all my life (except for 2 years in DC).

  • carole

    I left Cincinnati as a young wife and mother in 1968 and have only returned to visit. These photos brought back fond memories of what will always be my “home” town. Thanks for sharing.

  • Debbie Zeis

    It was great seeing my home town where I had my first job.

  • BILL

    i READ ONE REVIEW THAT CINCINNATI IS MORE ATTRACTIVE TODAY THAN BACK IN THE 20′S AND 30′S WELL THEY DIDN’T SPEND A LOT OF UNNECESSARY MONEY FOR GOOD LOOKS …

  • Alex

    This is actually great as most of these buildings are still standing. We have a rare thing in Cincinnati that must be treasured.