From the National Library of Congress,

Photographs by Jack Delano, 1940's.

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34785v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34790v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34782v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34699v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34784v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34781v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34677v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34788v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34688v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34791v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34783v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34780v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34786v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34678v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34787v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34775v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34779v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34697v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34676v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34797v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34645v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fs...0/1a34663v.jpg

I am very fascinated with old trains and Chicago. Delano's photos really capture it perfectly.

These pics are just amazing. What a city i have to say. A very awesome thread...

:yes:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../earlychi5.jpg


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../earlychi3.jpg
^^I think Aero Park is now Midway airport, not sure though.


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../earlychi1.jpg


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2...o/earlychi.jpg


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../earlychi2.gif
^^ Jim Colosimo was Chicago first organized crime head. He was murdered by Jim Torio, would brought in Al Capone from NYC to take over.

Here is an aerial view of the Loop in 1938. The dome of the Federal building
(destroyed in the late 1960s) can be seen in the center of the photograph.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3...938ebaygu8.jpg

...and also the lakefront 1938.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3...pfoto3ata8.jpg

if you see RED Xs for these photos....hit the refresh button. They're quite large.

This is the best thread of all time. It's amazing.

I was going to ask about that domed building (Chicago Federal Building). I've never seen pics of it before. It's a shame they tore it down.

Are those two huge structures (one west and the other northwest of downtown) water tanks or towers? Those things are a couple of hundred feet tall!

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3...pfoto3ata8.jpg

^ Gas works I guess.

Aerial skyline shots from this time are always amazing.

^^^^

awesome shot

^^^
Rusty Staub and Ducov
Here's a photograph of one of the tanks you guys mentioned, taken in 1929.

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/2...chicagokm6.jpg

...and this is the reverse of the photo.

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/2...ontank2vu8.jpg

You guys should check out the thread I started under
buildings and architecture:
"ROOFTOP TRANSMISSION TOWERS and obsolete BEACONS."

I think its cool that you noticed such a small detail (the tanks)
in that 1938 aerial shot.

I don't think "urban renewal" is what was responsible for River North getting "wiped clean". North of Chicago Avenue was the Cabrini development (indeed urban renewal), but those were some of the worst, most wretched slums in the city. South of Chicago Avenue was really just a victim of changing economic times (less need for the warehouse/factory buildings, more need for parking lots) and overall disinvestment.

Here is a snapshot of the Graf Zeppelin circling downtown Chicago in 1933

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/458...hgo1929kv0.jpg

oh..and to back up my claim. :)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/414...eppinbwew8.jpg


http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2371/zepnearsvy1.jpg


and this billboard...

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8...llboardmk3.jpg

this must be the poor guy that painted it (or glued the sheets on).....

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9...pbillb2do4.jpg

blimps were so clearly the more inelegant solution.

Is that a breadline? j/k...

They were throwing bread from the blimp. It was chaos. ;)

I was just informed it was strudel.

oh my god!! they need to put the PBR sign back up or ship it to Portland, we consume enough of that stuff to put it to good use here.

Some great finds, Chicago is such an amazing city.

u drink PBR in Portland ? (I love Portland)

What a loss - I'm afraid to ask what replaced it...

Anywho, there is only one real reply to a thread of this caliber.

:banana: :banana: :banana: