Cincinnati is the major city of Ohio, settled in 1788. It was initially incorporated as a town in 1809 and officially recognized as a city in 1819. In the late 19th century, Cincinnati was one of the rapidly growing and thriving cities in the United States. It became an important industrial, economic, political, and literary center. The major industries were iron, meatpacking, cloth production, and woodworking. Cincinnati had the largest brewing industry in the United States before the Prohibition. The population grew steadily, and many civic and cultural institutions were founded. The success continued throughout the first two decades of the 20th century and disrupted during the great depression. The world’s first reinforced concrete skyscraper was also built in Cincinnati in 1903. New infrastructures were built, including Union Terminal, the post office, and the large Cincinnati and Suburban Telephone Company Building.

Here below, we have compiled a list of spectacular historical photos of old Cincinnati that show streets, roads, landmarks, and everyday life of Cincinnati at the beginning of the 20th century.