It seems that even within the past decade, Cleveland has undergone an immense amount of transformation. But looking back even further, we see that this sort of change has been the norm for the past century. Photographs from the early 20th century provide a glimpse into our familiar city as it appeared nearly one hundred years ago: nearly unrecognizable.

And even so, with buildings that have been replaced, modes of transportation that have been updated, and streets that have been paved over many times, there’s something intangibly familiar about these pictures and the figures in them. See what you think.

  1. A photochrom postcard of Lake View Park, circa 1901

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  1. The Ohio Building at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition.

Wikicommons The famous Cleveland architect John Eisenmann designed both the building and its waving flag, which is now the Ohio state flag.

  1. A photochrom postcard of the Armory of the Ohio National Guard in 1901

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  1. The 1903 Cleveland Naps (currently known as the Cleveland Indians)

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  1. The Hollenden Hotel, 1903

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  1. Sailing boats near Cleveland, circa 1904

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  1. A Tacoma Times cover recounting the Cleveland flood of January 1904.

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  1. League Park as it stood in 1905

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  1. A lumber yard in 1911

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  1. The interior of a street railway car, 1902

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  1. A scene from Euclid Beach in 1905

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  1. The Hippodrome at Euclid Beach Park, 1905

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  1. A night time scene from Luna Park, 1905

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  1. Cleveland major Tom Johnson running an outdoor meeting in 1908

Photo Credit

  1. The Woman Suffrage Headquarters in 1912

Wikicommons This photograph was taken from Upper Euclid Avenue and features the President of the National League of Women Voters, Belle Sherwin.

What are your thoughts on these photographs from the early twentieth century? Do you see mostly similarities or differences? Be sure to share your thoughts with us!

Wikicommons

The famous Cleveland architect John Eisenmann designed both the building and its waving flag, which is now the Ohio state flag.

Photo Credit

This photograph was taken from Upper Euclid Avenue and features the President of the National League of Women Voters, Belle Sherwin.

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