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Cool Vintage Photos That Capture Everyday Life Of Cincinnati In the Late 1930s

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We recently posted some cool historical photographs of Cincinnati in the early 1900s. And now we are sharing historical photos of Cincinnati from the late 1930s that document the everyday life of the city. Nelson Ronsheim captured these photographs. He was the youngest photographer to record history through his camera at the age of 18. Nelson was a student of history, and he captured 800 pictures of the city during the 1930s.

#1 Young man contemplates downtown Cincinnati’s skyline, Feb. 11th, 1938

Young man contemplates downtown Cincinnati's skyline, Feb. 11th, 1938

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#2 Ohio River and Eastern Ave. from Cliff Drive in Eden Park, October 12th, 1939

Ohio River and Eastern Ave. from Cliff Drive in Eden Park, October 12th, 1939

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#3 Downtown Cincinnati from Immaculata Church in Mt. Adams, May 27th, 1939

Downtown Cincinnati from Immaculata Church in Mt. Adams, May 27th, 1939

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#4 Mount Adams as seen from E. Liberty St. and Highland Ave. (Ida Street Bridge in the distance), May 1939

Mount Adams as seen from E. Liberty St. and Highland Ave. (Ida Street Bridge in the distance), May 1939

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#5 Mount Adams from Bellevue, Kentucky, July 29th, 1939

Mount Adams from Bellevue, Kentucky, July 29th, 1939

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#7 A streetcar riding the Mt. Adams incline provides the backdrop for children on the steps up the hill, November 1938

A streetcar riding the Mt. Adams incline provides the backdrop for children on the steps up the hill, November 1938

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#9 Laurel St. (now Ezzard Charles) looking west; Union Terminal looms in the distance, April 1939

Laurel St. (now Ezzard Charles) looking west; Union Terminal looms in the distance, April 1939

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#10 Looking across the Ohio River from Eden Park toward Bellevue, Kentucky, May 1939

Looking across the Ohio River from Eden Park toward Bellevue, Kentucky, May 1939

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#12 Kilgour St. in Mt. Adams as seen from Fort Washington Way ramp, below Columbia Parkway, 1938

Kilgour St. in Mt. Adams as seen from Fort Washington Way ramp, below Columbia Parkway, 1938

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#13 A Civil War era cannon on Mt. Adams overlooks Ida Street, March 1939

A Civil War era cannon on Mt. Adams overlooks Ida Street, March 1939

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#14 Looking east down Hill Street in Mt. Adams, April 15th, 1939

Looking east down Hill Street in Mt. Adams, April 15th, 1939

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#15 View of Hill St., Columbia Pkwy., Pearl St. and train yards on the river’s bank, December 30th, 1939

View of Hill St., Columbia Pkwy., Pearl St. and train yards on the river's bank, December 30th, 1939

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#16 Construction of Columbia Parkway viaduct over Eggleston Avenue in January 1938

Construction of Columbia Parkway viaduct over Eggleston Avenue in January 1938

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#18 A dairy farm in the city; Glenwood Avenue near Canyon Drive, September 19th, 1939

A dairy farm in the city; Glenwood Avenue near Canyon Drive, September 19th, 1939

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#19 A workman studies a massive drum farm at the Proctor and Gamble factory, July 15th, 1939

A workman studies a massive drum farm at the Proctor and Gamble factory, July 15th, 1939

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#20 Holly Cross Monastery as seen from Elsinore Pl, March 1939

Holly Cross Monastery as seen from Elsinore Pl, March 1939

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#21 View of downtown at night from Jackson Hill Park stairway, June 1939

View of downtown at night from Jackson Hill Park stairway, June 1939

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#22 Construction of the Columbia Parkway Viaduct over Eggleston Avenue, looking north, January 1938

Construction of the Columbia Parkway Viaduct over Eggleston Avenue, looking north, January 1938

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#25 Looking down Monastery St. toward downtown Cincinnati, December 30th, 1939

Looking down Monastery St. toward downtown Cincinnati, December 30th, 1939

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#26 Mount Adams, Kilgour St., Oregon St. and Imaculata Church, April 1939

Mount Adams, Kilgour St., Oregon St. and Imaculata Church, April 1939

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#27 View inside the Mt. Adams incline upper station, March 1939

View inside the Mt. Adams incline upper station, March 1939

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#28 View of downtown from the George Hunt Pendleton House at 559 Liberty Hill in the Prospect Hill District, May 1939

View of downtown from the George Hunt Pendleton House at 559 Liberty Hill in the Prospect Hill District, May 1939

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#29 Kenton St. overpass looking west down Florence Ave., 1 January, 1938

Kenton St. overpass looking west down Florence Ave., 1 January, 1938

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#31 Looking south from the lower deck of the Western Hills Viaduct (Union Terminal and the post office building are visible in the distance on the left), August 12th, 1939

Looking south from the lower deck of the Western Hills Viaduct (Union Terminal and the post office building are visible in the distance on the left), August 12th, 1939

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#32 Row boats at rest in Burnet Woods at 8.30 am, Cincinnati, Ohio September 19th, 1939

Row boats at rest in Burnet Woods at 8.30 am, Cincinnati, Ohio September 19th, 1939

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#33 Two children walk around the reflecting pool in Eden Park, June 10th, 1939

Two children walk around the reflecting pool in Eden Park, June 10th, 1939

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#35 Sisters on the stairway down from Jackson Hill Park to Mulberry Street, just west of Dorsey St., June 11th, 1939

Sisters on the stairway down from Jackson Hill Park to Mulberry Street, just west of Dorsey St., June 11th, 1939

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#36 View from Elsinore near the intersection of Wareham, March 1939

View from Elsinore near the intersection of Wareham, March 1939

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#38 Wheelbarrows used in depression-era government work programs sit idle, February 1939

Wheelbarrows used in depression-era government work programs sit idle, February 1939

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#39 The corner of E. Liberty Street (now known as Liberty Hill) and Highland Avenue, May 1939

The corner of E. Liberty Street (now known as Liberty Hill) and Highland Avenue, May 1939

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#40 The once busy train yard sandwiched between Gilbert Ave. and Reading Rd. on downtown Cincinnati’s east side, April 1939

The once busy train yard sandwiched between Gilbert Ave. and Reading Rd. on downtown Cincinnati's east side, April 1939

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29 Comments

    • The project was never completed. The project had originally been planned and a bond issued in the 1910’s, but World War 1 delayed construction and increased costs. By the end of the 1920s, the costs had ballooned and a little more than 2 miles of tunnels had been completed. The unfinished subway lines are still under the city today.

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      • It’s not true that they’ve been abandoned. Tunnels are used for a variety of infrastructure purposes, including water lines, electrical wires, and fiber optic cables. You get in serious trouble if you get caught breaking in.

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          • Yep! The one in Cincinnati has the water main running through the tunnel, and there are two stations built. A few years ago, my friend and I were able to get in and it was pitch black and pretty eerie once you got far enough away from the entrance. There is a brick wall where it stops, but the rest of the tunnel isn’t, so that’s cool. It runs through downtown, but I forget where it runs, but it’s right off one of the major highways.

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  6. Great photos here. I’m surprised I’ve never seen this before. Central Parkway never looked so pleasant to me. Imagining the pedestrian bridge from the WCET garage going up and then being torn down between this photo and today is also fun.

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