There are a wealth of vintage photos of the Land of Lincoln that are worth a gander. From Illinois’ mining history to its involvement in wars, these old shots show it all. Detailing everyday life as well as special occasions, these images will take you back to the early 1900s.
These fascinating images are from 1900 through 1925. Whether you love learning about the past or just think vintage photos are interesting, you’ll find much to entertain you in this list. Check it out:
- Students at the Southern Illinois State Normal University in Carbondale in 1901 learn about all forms of science in experimental ways.
Wikimedia Commons/Internet Archive Book Images
- The 12th Street Bascule Bridge in 1905 lifts apart for the passing of a boat on the Chicago River that apparently took daily excursions to the drainage canal.
Wikimeida Commons/Detroit Publishing Co.
- Men work on the Chicago subway system so it can operate freight train traffic around 1905.
Wikimeida Commons
- The Holt Caterpillar Co. in East Peoria making their unique design of tractors in 1910
Wikimeida Commons
- Illinois’ 19th regiment, a volunteer infantry that lent its services during the Civil War, is pictured 50 years later in 1912.
Wikimedia Commons/Internet Archive Book Images
- Several men work to get Ovington’s Bleriot Monoplane off the ground in 1911 in Chicago at the Aviation Meet.
Wikimeida Commons
- Known as the Metra Ogilvie Transportation Center today, this large lobby was part of what was once called the Chicago and North Western Terminal in 1912.
Wikimedia Commons/trialsanderrors
- A man in 1915 works above ground at a coal mine to produce materials for stoppings, which were used control air flow underground.
Flickr/Internet Archive Book Images
- There’s something fascinating about this old photo of a mine shaft taken in 1915. This is what it was like to look up at it from below.
Flickr/Internet Archive Book Images
- Men drafted to serve in the United States Army in 1920 during the First World War parade down the streets of Chicago.
Flickr/Internet Archive Book Images
- The entrance to the LaSalle Theater in Chicago in July 1921 when it was decorated for the showing of the film The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Wikimeida Commons
For more vintage photos like these, check out this list of the absolute oldest photos ever taken in Illinois.
Wikimedia Commons/Internet Archive Book Images
Wikimeida Commons/Detroit Publishing Co.
Wikimeida Commons
Wikimedia Commons/trialsanderrors
Flickr/Internet Archive Book Images
If you have any vintage photos like these from the early 1900s, we’d love to see them. Feel free to share your best shots with us below in the comments.
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