Downtown, 20th Century, Rockford, Illinois.

300 Block, South Main Street.

This building, in the 300 block of South Main at Chestnut Street, houses several businesses: the Loop Tavern; a leather store; and a barber shop and beauty parlor. Another lunch counter and Goodyear's are up the street (to the right in the photo).

Chestnut Street Bridge.

This view looks west across the brick-paved Chestnut Street Bridge. Behind the Texaco station on the left stands the majestic Hotel Nelson, and on the right is the equally impressive Brown Building behind the electric company in the foreground.

West & East Rockford, Aerial View.

An aerial photograph showing the Rock River splitting the city while its bridges connect Rockford's West side (left) with the East side (right).

West Rockford, Aerial View.

This aerial photograph is looking from south to north across Rockford's West side. The Rock River and its many bridges can be seen to the right in the photo.

Chestnut Street Bridge.

A view looking southwest across the Rock River at Rockford's West side. The Chestnut Street Bridge spans the photo and the U.S. flag in the lower left corner is the end of the Rockford Register Star newspaper building. GC Electronics Co. is in the…

Looking West Across the Rock River.

This photograph looks from Rockford's East side across the Rock River to the West side. Illinois National Bank can be seen in the photo's center; to the right of this is the Henry Lindberg Furniture store and next to this is Litton Dental.

Looking Across the Rock River from West Side to the East.

This photograph looks from Rockford's West side across the Rock River to the East side. The Daily Republic newspaper building at 97-99 E. State Street can be seen far left, and the Watchmaker's Institute can be seen far right.

Aerial View of Broadway, Charles St., and Alpine Road.

This aerial photograph shows Broadway (just right of center), Charles St. running diagonally through Broadway, and Alpine Road perpendicular to Charles in the upper portion. The early stages of development for the Colonial Village Mall can be seen in…

West State Street Looking East.

A view of W. State Street looking east toward the Rock River. Businesses on the left include Woolworth's, Rockford Dry Goods, and Kepner's Shoes at 213 1/2 W. State. On the right are Stuckey Suits, the National Hotel (308 W. State), and the John R.…

400 Block, 7th Street.

This black and white photograph shows a wintry scene in the 400 block of 7th Street. The A. G. Ogren Music Co., located at 415-417 7th Street, is on the right. For an additional view looking down the street from the opposite direction, see photo…

400 Block, 7th Street.

This black and white photograph shows a wintry view of the 400 block of 7th Street. The A. G. Ogren Music Co., located at 415-417 7th Street, is on the left.

Rockford's West Side Looking Northeast.

A view from the southwest downtown area looking northeast toward Jefferson Street Bridge and beyond.

Court House Square from the Air.

This aerial view of the Court House Square shows the majestically white and domed structure of the Court House flanked by (bottom then clockwise) W. State, N. Church, Elm, and N. Court Streets.

South Main Street.

A view of S. Main Street looking south from W. State Street. Note the rails in the middle of the brick roadway.

State and Madison Streets Looking West.

This photograph looks west down E. State Street toward the Madison Street intersection and beyond. The Chicago Hotel & Restaurant can be seen on the right.

300 Block, North Main Street.

A black and white photograph depicting the Rockford Motor Hotel, 317-319 N. Main Street, which opened ca. 1928, billed as a facility providing auto storage, washing, and greasing as well as a filling station. Next door is Wendt Drug Store (John F.)…

300 Block, North Main Street.

A black and white photograph depicting the Rockford Motor Hotel, 317-319 N. Main Street, which opened ca. 1928, billed as a facility providing auto storage, washing, and greasing as well as a filling station. Next door is Wendt Drug Store (John F.)…

West Side Reflections.

This newspaper photograph shows buildings on Rockford's West side reflected in the Rock River. Rockford's civic arena, the 10,000-seat Metro Centre, is in the background slightly to the left of middle. This facility had just opened the previous month…

Rockford Looking North from Court House.

A slice of Rockford showing west side downtown churches, businesses, and homes. The Rock River winds it way in the upper right portion of the photo.

Rockford Morning Star.

This photograph displays the formidable structure of the Rockford Morning Star newspaper building located at 129 N. Wyman Street. Note the streetcar rails curving through the brick roadway.

Bird's-Eye View Looking North.

This black and white bird's-eye view shows Wyman Street, with the Water Works tower and the public library's dome, to the right, and N. Main Street on the left with the Coronado Theatre's sign in the distance.

Cityscape Looking South.

This photograph looks south with S. Main Street to the right where the Illinois Hotel, located at 209-211 S. Main, can be seen.

Rockford Motor Hotel.

This black and white photograph depicts the Rockford Motor Hotel, 317-319 N. Main Street, which opened ca. 1928, billed as a facility offering services for auto storage, washing, greasing, and a filling station. Next door is Wendt Drug Store (John…

"The Lost River."

The text underneath this newspaper photograph reads: "The Rock River sort of disappeared for a short time during the night on Monday (Nov. 24, 1980) and left these docks high and dry. The water locks on Fordham Dam opened and dropped the level of the…

I. C. Crossing, S. Main St.

This photograph shows the Illinois Central Railroad crossing on S. Main Street. The Rockford Real Estate and Loan Co., 1010 S. Main, is on the left in front of the Illinois Central Freight House. The back of the photo reads: "New brick pavement laid…

Aerial View from the South Looking North.

A wonderful aerial photograph depicting the Rock River splitting Rockford's West side (left) from the East side (right).

"Business and Residential," Rockford Aerial View.

A depiction of downtown Rockford from the air displaying mostly commercial centers on the west side (lower left portion) and residential districts branching out on the east side (upper right part).

Downtown Rockford Aerial View.

This photograph shows Rockford's West side (left) and the bridges over the Rock River that connect to the East side (right).

Aerial Rockford.

This aerial photograph displays Rockford's East (right) and West (left) sides bisected by the Rock River. Part of the airplane's wing can be seen in the left portion of the photo.

Norris Art Store.

Tucked between Mrs. Trufant's and the Swiss Laundry is the Norris Art Shop, located at 221 E. State Street.

Hess Bros. & Co., The Big Store.

The Hess Brothers built a large department store at E. State and 3rd Streets (516-528 E. State).

Main Street and the Chick House Hotel.

Thomas Chick purchased the Griggs House Hotel and started the Chick House Hotel in 1888 at the corner of Main and Elm Streets. This photograph looks south down Main Street. The sign on the side of the building for the Illinois Hotel can be seen…

Aerial Downtown View.

This aerial photograph depicts an unknown section of downtown with a more residential-looking district in the forefront and industrial smokestacks peeking through in the background.

Parade on State Street Bridge.

A view of the State Street Bridge facing west. With flags flying and crowds of people, this scene is a parade of some sort. The newspaper building is across the bridge in the middle and the library building's dome can be seen to the right.

West State Scene.

A double photograph of a lady carrying a package down West State Street. An overhanging sign in the background proclaims Bolender Jewelers at 313 W. State.

High View of Downtown.

This hazy black and white photograph depicts the Winnebago County Courthouse in the background (left) on W. State Street with F. D. Goddard's and the State Hotel nearby. For an additional view, see photo 85.109(I).905.88

Ashton's on West State Street.

A view of downtown Rockford showing Ashton's Dry Goods Store, 301-305 W. State Street, at the corner of W. State and N. Main Streets.

Main Street.

This photograph looks south down Main Street. The sign for the Chick House Hotel at Main and Elm Streets is visible in the lower middle foreground while the sign on the side of the building for the Illinois Hotel can be seen further down the block.

Downtown District.

This photograph depicts a business and industrial downtown scene featuring Rockford Silver Plate Company, 202-206 S. Wyman at Elm Street.

Slice of Downtown Rockford.

In this scene, the National Hotel, 308 W. State Street, is on the left and the Armstrong Clothing building is in the background. The National Hotel was in business from 1901 until 1928 when it was slated for demolition. Armstrong Clothing closed in…

Waterworks Park and the Rock River.

Located on Preston Street, Waterworks Park, with its tower looming in the distance, is pictured next to the Rock River. A steam ship is anchored at the west bank.

West State Street Looking East Across the State Street Bridge.

This sidelong glance along a building shows W. State Street looking east across the State Street Bridge at E. State Street. A man can be seen crossing W. State, trolley lines traverse down the center of the road, and poles carry electric wires down…

Adams Express Wagon in Front of Grand Opera House.

A photograph of an Adams Express wagon (a business located at 203 W. State Street) in front of Rockford's Grand Opera House located at 113-117 N. Wyman Street.

Rockford, Ill. East State St., Looking West from 1st St.

A black and white photograph showing Doxee & Son (J. L and R. E.) Shoes, 407 E. State Street, and the Fritz Cafe.

Rockford, Ill. West State St., Looking East.

This photographic reprint of a postcard shows W. State looking east to the Rock River with Rockford Abstract Company located at 313 W. State (far left) and C. F. Henry's Clothing Store (right of center).

West Side of 100 Block, South Main Street.

A photograph depicting the Elms Hotel and D. J. Stewart at 115 S. Main Street, building erected in 1890.

Court House Square.

This photograph of the northwest corner of Court House Square shows the Lerch & Son (C. A. and C. C.) restaurant located at 427 W. State Street.

100 Block, South Main Street.

The limestone building pictured occupied 118-120 S. Main Street in a busy area of downtown Rockford. This structure housed the New American Theatre (N. A. T.).

The Hotel Chick on Main Street.

Thomas Chick purchased the Griggs House Hotel and started the Chick House Hotel in 1888 at the corner of Main and Elm Streets. This photograph looks south down Main Street. The sign on the side of the building for the Illinois Hotel can be seen…

West State Street Looking East from Court House, Rockford, Ill.

This reprint photograph depicts a busy West State Street, crowded with trolley cars, horse-and-buggies, and pedestrians, stretching east toward the Rock River.

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