Browse Items (192 total)
Sort by:
Steamboat "Illinois" Sinking
The steamboat, "Illinois" sinking in the Rock River in front of the Rockford Public Library. An accident that may have been caused by carrying too many passengers, caused the steamboat to partially sink.
Steamboat "Illinois" Sinking
The steamboat, "Illinois" sinking in the Rock River in front of the Rockford Public Library. An accident that may have been caused by carrying too many passengers, caused the steamboat to partially sink.
Steamboat "Illinois" Sinking
The steamboat, "Illinois" starting to sink in the Rock River in front of the Rockford Public Library and Vaudeville Orpheum Tent Show
Steamboat "Illinois"
The steamboat, "Illinois" with passengers at the rails. The "Illinois" was owned by John T. Buker and former Rockford Mayor Amasa Hutchins, built in 1900. The steamboat quickly became the most locally known and popular steamboat on the Rock River.…
Steamboat "May Lee"
In 1896, "May Lee" was the second steamboat owned by Theodore C. Largent, who named it after his daughter May and son Lee. The steamboat was cut into two pieces when it proved to be too small to keep up with the demand for passenger travel. A middle…
USS Ward Battleship
A battleship in San Diego Harbor, possibly the USS Ward, Destroyer #139, APD - 16. The USS Ward was launched June 1, 1918, visiting California ports such as San Diego in 1919. She was decommissioned July 21, 1921 and placed in "Red Lead Row" at San…
Rockford City Busing
A Rockford, Illinois city bus at the 15th Avenue rail crossing. From 1880 to 1936, a city railway and interurban system provided transportation to city residents. In 1920, paved roads replaced dirt and buses started to replace the interurban rail…
Peoria Rockford Bus Company
The Peoria Rockford Bus Company operated as Central Trailways 1937 - 1942.
Burlington Trailways
A 'Burlington Trailways' bus from Los Angeles to Chicago. The bus stop in Rockford, Illinois was located at 609 South Main Street. The Burlington Transportation Company was created in Burlington, Iowa by the Chicago Burlington Quincy (CBQ) Railroad…
Traveling by Car
Unidentified adults picnicking between two automobiles. Two women are wearing protective head gear and coats that were typically worn when traveling by car.
Driving in a Hayfield
An early automobile in a hayfield. The steering wheel is located on the right as was the custom for horse drawn buggies. After 1908, car manufacturers moved the steering wheel to the left side to increase safety for passengers getting into the…
Early 20th Century Automobile
An early automobile on a street in Rockford, Illinois. The style of the vehicle is similar to horse drawn buggies.
Harley-Davidson
Man on a 1909 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. By 1914 Arthur L. Johnson was selling motorcycles at 130 North Madison Street in Rockford, Illinois. In 1923, Mr. Johnson was ready to retire. The regional Harley-Davidson sales manager contacted Joe Kegel,…
Tarkington Motor Company
Tarkington Motor Car Company automobile. The Tarkington automobile was a two-door, six-cylinder, gas-powered car built in the early 1920s in Rockford, Illinois. Joseph Arthur Tarkington was unsuccessful in getting the car mass produced. The…
Early Motorcycles
Five men on early motorcycles. The earliest motorcycles had motors attached to bicycle frames. The center motorcycle is a Harley Davidson.
Sears Buggy
John J. Andrews is driving a Sears Buggy. The passenger is Frank Riggs and the little girl standing nearby is Leta Andrews. John J. Andrews was a superintendent of the Knickerbocker Ice Company which bought a Sears Buggy for each of their…
Model T Automobile
Roy and Carroll Cunningham from Chicago are in the back seat with Roy Betts driving. "Ma" Edith Betts is standing. The car is a Model T with Magneto headlights and kerosene side lamps. A suitcase is stored on each of the front fenders. Roy Betts and…
Bus Fleet
Bus fleet for Illinois C. C. They appear to be school buses.
Automobile Races
Automobile racing on possibly a public dirt road. Many spectators line both sides of the road.
Automobile Races
Automobile racing on a dirt road. It is possible that this is a track rather than a public road.
Automobile Races
Motor sports were popular since the invention of automobiles and motorcycles in the early 1900s. Early races took place on public dirt roads. Goggles protected the driver's eyes from airborne dirt from the roads.
Automobile Races
Motor sports were popular since the invention of automobiles and motorcycles in the early 1900s. Early races took place on public dirt roads.
Motorcycle Racing
Motorcycle Racing
Kurt Hitke
A photographic postcard of Kurt Hitke in the "Roamer" car. Kurt Hitke (December 1, 1889 - February 23, 1979) was a German born, naturalized American race car driver. He became one of the best known race car drivers in the United States. He was an…
Robert Burman
A photographic postcard of Bob Burman in a Peugeot car. The Peugeot family started manufacturing cars in France during the 1890s. They were an early pioneer in car racing. Robert Burman (April 23, 1884 - April 8, 1916) was an American race car…
Percy Ford
A photographic postcard of Percy Ford. Percy Ford (March 15 1888 - March 8, 1962) was a national amateur race car driver from Chicago, Illinois where he was an automobile sales manager. He started racing in 1915 at the Chicago Speedway and raced in…
Early Nineteenth Century Automobile
The vehicle pictured is the same as in image number 85.109(I).905.96. The vehicle model appears to be a very early car that mimics a horse drawn buggy.
Early Nineteenth Century Automobile
This early automobile has a similar body design as a horse drawn buggy and is similar to cars made in 1902 - 1906. Illinois license plates were first issued in 1911. There is a safety bar that extends across the width of the vehicle for passengers to…
Family Outing
One of the first cars available to the general population was the Ford Model T. Its cheap cost made it affordable for many to have an automobile. Americans adopted this method of transportation very quickly, replacing their horse drawn carriages.
Automobile Steering
Mr. T.J.M.S. poses in his automobile. Before 1908, almost every car built in the United States had the steering wheel located at the right side of the automobile, following the practice of horse drawn carriages. When the Ford Motor Company launched…
Automobile Storage
Early automobiles had limited storage space. The running board was often used to carry containers for storage.
Illinois License Plate
Illinois first required car owners to register their vehicles in 1907 with owners providing their own license plates until the state issued them in 1911. Front and rear plates were required each year along with an aluminum dashboard disc with the…
Nelson Bridge
Looking from Nelson Bridge in Rockford, Illinois. Nelson Bridge was also known as the 15th Avenue river crossing. The bridge was declared unsafe for heavy traffic and was closed in 1929, reopening in 1930. A new bridge was built and opened in 1934.
Wate-A-Wyle Club
The "Wate-A-Wyle" Club was a group of young men who had fixed up old automobiles with imitation racing bodies with no machine costing over $100. These vehicles were used for a comedy race which was at a snail's pace due to the cars often stopping or…
Motorized Bicycle
Early motorized bicycle or motorcycle. Bicycles began to be motorized with steam engines in the mid 1800s. Motorcycle manufacturing in the United States began in 1901. This image is a photographic postcard produced by Eastman Kodak.
Motorcycle Racing
Early motorcycle racing. Motorcycles were first introduced in 1901 and Harley Davidsons in 1903. Early races were held on horse tracks with wooden tracks specially built by 1909. This image is a photographic postcard produced by Eastman Kodak.
Electric Car
Possibly an electric car. The first small scale electric cars were invented in the 1830s with the first practical electric car being built in the 1870s and becoming popular by 1900. Electric cars at this time were quieter and cleaner than the gas…
Street Scene
An unidentified woman with two men. An early 20th century automobile is at left and a trolley is in the background at the right.
Rockford Furniture Company
Rockford Furniture Company, located at 1009 West Jefferson Street.
Changing a Tire
Changing a tire. The roads of 1910 - 1920s were unpaved and often rough putting a lot of wear on tires. Tires were fairly thin and were expected to last about 1000 miles.
Model T Automobile
Possibly a Model T automobile. The photo is printed on an AZO photographic postcard that were produced by Eastman Kodak.
Parade in Rockford
Convertible in a parade driving on the side of the Winnebago County Courthouse and County Jail near Elm and Court Streets. Two passengers in the back seat are possibly Shriners.
Changing a Tire
Changing a tire. The roads of 1910 - 1920s were unpaved and often rough putting a lot of wear on tires. Tires were fairly thin and were expected to last about 1000 miles.
Shoveling Snow
A man shoveling the snow around a car.
1930s Automobile
Unidentified man with a 1930s automobile.
Automobile Duster
A lady wearing a duster waits in the passenger seat of an early 20th century automobile. A duster is a coat worn to protect other clothing while riding in an open automobile. The wrap over the woman's head also protects her face and hair from dust…
Peoria-Rockford Bus Company
Group of unidentified men posing in front of two Silver Arrow Peoria-Rockford Bus Company charter buses.
Teachout Family Outing
Possibly Ed and "Min" Gorham with Adella Teachout and several of the Teachout girls. Fred Dwight Teachout (born in Rockford April 27, 1858 - May 10, 1937) and his wife Adella Rachel (Jones) Teachout (born in Seward May 14, 1864 - June 6, 1948) had…
Green Street, Rockford, Illinois
Parked cars along Green Street, Rockford, Illinois in 1927.
Illinois License Plates
A car with a 1938 Illinois license plate. Illinois first required car owners to register their vehicles in 1907 with owners providing their own license plates until the state issued them in 1911. 1934 is the first time the state name, "Illinois", is…