At the turn of the Twentieth Century, as the skyscraper became more popular, panoramic skyline photography became the rage. Cities wanted to boast their new skylines. 1916 seems to be the peak year for these old panoramic photos because almost all are dated that year. Here are some skyline photographs from a few southern cities during 1916. I threw in the "Big Apple" for comparison. It's interesting to see how many of the old buildings exist almost 90 years later. Practically all of the old buildings in Birmingham's 1916 panoramic photos exist. By the way, the photo links are from the Library of Congress. If you have not explored the tons of city photos located there you should. Enjoy!

Birmingham, (1916 looking east) "Heaviest Corner on Earth to the right.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a16000/6a16800/6a16817r.jpg

Birmingham (1916 Looking North, Heaviest Corner on Earth)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a16000/6a16800/6a16833r.jpg

Mobile (A smaller version of New Orleans)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a15000/6a15100/6a15136r.jpg

Louisville (earlier 1910)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a05000/6a05400/6a05486r.jpg

New Orleans - Largest Southern city at the time (1919)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a05000/6a05600/6a05628r.jpg

Jacksonville 1916http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a18000/6a18800/6a18897r.jpg

Memphis (1916)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a10000/6a10000/6a10011r.jpg

Atlanta (strange - no skyline pics, but here's Ga Tech - I think)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a03000/6a03500/6a03552r.jpg

Nashville
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a09000/6a09900/6a09944r.jpg

Knoxville (cool shot)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a14000/6a14500/6a14561r.jpg

Miami (Nine years later 1925 - under construction)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a03000/6a03200/6a03273r.jpg

Tampa
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a03000/6a03400/6a03463r.jpg

Richmond under construction
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a15000/6a15700/6a15761r.jpg

Norfolk (1919)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a15000/6a15800/6a15812r.jpg

Charlotte
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a08000/6a08200/6a08211r.jpg

Raleigh (teens)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a15000/6a15300/6a15317r.jpg

Columbia (cool street scene. It was ten after twelve according to the clock)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a09000/6a09600/6a09652r.jpg

Houston 1921
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a10000/6a10400/6a10403r.jpg

Dallas (1913 - check out that awsome victorian skyscraper)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a10000/6a10300/6a10366r.jpg

San Antonio (early - storm on the horizon)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a10000/6a10100/6a10119r.jpg

Fort Worth - seems to rival Dallas at the time
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a14000/6a14600/6a14666r.jpg

Oklahoma City (1919) - close to the size of Dallas - lots of construction
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a14000/6a14200/6a14272r.jpg

The Big Apple - NY - for comparison (1916) - what is that awsome building w/ dome shape top???
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a36000/6a36500/6a36595r.jpg

Nice shots!

I wish the Birmingham YMCA and original Tutwiler were still there though :(

I also wish Hotel Roden had been finished...

HUH?

In the second picture, it looks like the Redmont is a lot larger! Did part of it get torn down?

And one more thing,

Why did they tear down all those BEAUTIFUL buildings on First Avenue North for parking decks???

Auuuuuuuuuuugh.

*dies*

And HUH?

In the second picture, it looks like the Redmont is a lot larger! Did part of it get torn down?
Nope,
That's the American Life Insurance Company building (14 stories), which is slated for 42 new loft units. Construction will start next month.

Are you sure? The American Life building is further to the southeast than that, and has less ornamentation.

Here's the view from my apartment - I swear the building in the old picture is the Redmont but has somehow been cut in half?!

See?

http://home.comcast.net/~justinmarkvii/DTNightPano1.jpg

Oh, wait.

My B.

That's the original Tutwiler.

Durrr, I lose.

Those are nice. The Library of Congress has got some great stuff.

Those pics of Nashville and Memphis are from 1906 and 1910.

Fort Worth (1920):

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/I?pan:321:./temp/~ammem_z4of::displayType=1:m856sd=pan:m856sf=6a14633:@@@

Maybe you could edit the major ones you left out into the first post?

Those are nice. The Library of Congress has got some great stuff.

Those pics of Nashville and Memphis are from 1906 and 1910.
My bad. It's suprising that many "major" cities did not have panoramics from that time. I forgot to list the huge Texas cities. I will.

My bad. It's suprising that many "major" cities did not have panoramics from that time. I forgot to list the huge Texas cities. I will.

Yeah, you can really tell that Nashville looks like another era in 1906 compared to 1916 pics.

Nice shots!

I wish the Birmingham YMCA and original Tutwiler were still there though :(

I also wish Hotel Roden had been finished...

but if it'd been finished, would we have gotten Cabana? hmm...i wonder if there's any renderings of Roden.

-

Cool find. Here is Houston over the years.

1911
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a10000/6a10300/6a10392r.jpg

1912
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a10000/6a10400/6a10435r.jpg

1913
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a15000/6a15500/6a15573r.jpg

1914
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a15000/6a15500/6a15584r.jpg

1921
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a10000/6a10400/6a10403r.jpg

1949
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a10000/6a10400/6a10427r.jpg

looks like it was cold that day...or just really dirty chimneys all on.

http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a15000/6a15500/6a15584r.jpg

-

Wow. That New Orleans shot kills everyone.

The one of Fort Worth that was first posted was from 1910.

I love these.

its so amazing how skylines change over the years...i am dissappointed that there is no atlanta though :(

Those were great. It's funny how NYC even back then seems as though it had no equal.

Nice photos. Dallas looks especially nice.

Great pic of New Orleans. The first large building on the left side of the pic is the Audubon Building, which has been vacant for years. It's now being restored as a Hilton. The white building next to it is the Maison Blanche Building, which until recently was a department store and office building. It's now the Ritz-Carlton-New Orleans, and the S.H. Kress Building between the two is part of the Ritz.

It didn't... even though Chicago is the reputed birthplace of the skyscraper.

The dome-topped skyscraper in that NYC photo was the Singer building... built around 1908 and demolished in 1968 and the original Singer building (shorter one) right next to it... the tallest building ever imploded (I believe at over 600 feet). I've seen the bland building in its place, I forget but I think its one of the big steel companies... Huh, I guess they had a point to make by getting those old buildings torn down to make way for the FUGLY scrapers of that era. This is all based on what my daddy told me, and he is a native of Manhattan.

I forget how many old scrapers N.O. still has... absolutely amazing.

Also, one more thing about N.O. Sometime in the 1950s, Atlanta and New Orleans were having something of a competition to see which one's metro would reach 1 million first. Atlanta edged out New Orleans around 1958, and hasn't looked back.

It didn't... even though Chicago is the reputed birthplace of the skyscraper.

The dome-topped skyscraper in that NYC photo was the Singer building... built around 1908 and demolished in 1968 and the original Singer building (shorter one) right next to it... the tallest building ever imploded (I believe at over 600 feet). I've seen the bland building in its place, I forget but I think its one of the big steel companies... Huh, I guess they had a point to make by getting those old buildings torn down to make way for the FUGLY scrapers of that era. This is all based on what my daddy told me, and he is a native of Manhattan.
That Singer building has to be one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. That is an awsome building. I also like the tallest building (Second Empire) in the Dallas skyline - beautiful!

Also, one more thing about N.O. Sometime in the 1950s, Atlanta and New Orleans were having something of a competition to see which one's metro would reach 1 million first. Atlanta edged out New Orleans around 1958, and hasn't looked back.
Atanta left New Orleans, Birmingham and every other southern city in the dust!

Atanta left New Orleans, Birmingham and every other southern city in the dust!
With the exception of Miami

The Big Apple - NY - for comparison (1916) - what is that awsome building w/ dome shape top???
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/pan/6a36000/6a36500/6a36595r.jpg[/QUOTE]

That would be the Singer Building. Unfortinatly it was demolished in 1968 and replaced by the U.S Steel Building

BRILLIANT post...

I wouldn't have wanted to be black or white and poor in those days, but otherwise, take me back!!!

Fabulous post.

I was thinking... all of these photos had to be shot from somewhere, right? So in many cases we might not be seeing one of the very large buildings.

It didn't... even though Chicago is the reputed birthplace of the skyscraper.

The dome-topped skyscraper in that NYC photo was the Singer building... built around 1908 and demolished in 1968 and the original Singer building (shorter one) right next to it... the tallest building ever imploded (I believe at over 600 feet). I've seen the bland building in its place, I forget but I think its one of the big steel companies... Huh, I guess they had a point to make by getting those old buildings torn down to make way for the FUGLY scrapers of that era. This is all based on what my daddy told me, and he is a native of Manhattan.

actually, the shorter one right next to it's the City Investing Building. and they weren't imploded, they were dismantled. Singer Building is still the tallest building ever intentionally destroyed. the replacement was U.S. Steel and is now known as One Liberty Plaza.

-

Those pics are fantastic! I never knew there such huge cities other than NY like New Orleans and Houton in North America (or even in the world).

Awesome pictures!!!!! I really like the old Memphis, Mobile, Birmingham, and New Orleans pictures.

I've found a number of pre-1960 pictures of Columbia on the web that I've never posted on here. This seems like a good thread. Most of these are old postcards I found for sale online.

This is Columbia today:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/main%20from%20the%20capitol.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/downtown%20close%20up%20from%20greystone.jpg

The Main Street shot is probably from the 1940's since I believe the Wade Hampton Hotel was built around 1940.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/551.jpg

Same shot in the 50's. Not much skyscraper construction during that time.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/ETEXBILL3156.jpg

A wider shot from probably the 1940's:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/SC200.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/SC203.jpg

By the cars this may be from the 30's, but the Wade Hampton is in the distance and I think it opened in 1940.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/comnst.jpg

This is similar to the one posted earlier. This pic is definitely from between 1903 when the Barringer Building (National Loan and Exchange Building then...only scraper in the photo) was built and 1911 when construction began on the Palmetto Building. I'm happy to say that these scrapers still stand.

Probably another early 40's pic:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/18138.jpg

This is probably from the early 50's because both Cornell Arms (1948) and Clare Tower (1950, I believe) are there:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/35hnh87columbus.jpg

The old Wade Hampton Hotel, which was imploded in 1985 to make way for what is now known as the Southtrust Building.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/35hrd3wadehampton.jpg

Anyway...that's the end of the picture show, boys and girls.

Columbia, looking North-ish from the statehouse, down main, prior to the mid-1920s...(note; if i had the money and execution, i'd build a tallest for SC with a top in the style of the two-towered building on left, hells yeah)
keep in mind...that area to the left, saw a 12-ish high-rise go up in the 30s to a 25 story in the 80s...i just wanta keep the good tradition going

then:

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/38850996.jpg

now (to Waccamatt)

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/main%20from%20the%20capitol.jpg

to Drumcorpsalum

http://www.carolinasportsinc.com/temp/1-13-2005/IM000293.jpg

i need to scan my Cola postcard collection...

-

oh yes, i'm sorta buzzed now waccamatt, but some of the old Cola postcards, even now give me a good, memorable laugh, such as this one:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/SC200.jpg

more commentary reserved for soberer times...and i refer to the Sims "womens' dormatory" one...heh...

-

oh yes, i'm sorta buzzed now waccamatt, but some of the old Cola postcards, even now give me a good, memorable laugh, such as this one:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/SC200.jpg

more commentary reserved for soberer times...

-
WOW Columbia is nice with a lasting history. I've never explored Columbia - just traveled through on the expressway. I will make an effort to visit downtown next time. It seems that the capital grounds w/ the statue is truly a landmark of Columbia. That perspective has been there for years. I like that. Columbia is a nice city and I did not know that before.

Atanta left New Orleans, Birmingham and every other southern city in the dust!


But....New Orleans still has character. (I don't know what good that does, sometimes, but New Orleans still has it!!)

But....New Orleans still has character. (I don't know what good that does, sometimes, but New Orleans still has it!!)
alot of Good.

this is a great thread. wow@ Miami...i can count what 3 scrapers lol

HEre's a "through-out the ages" post (from magic-city in the Florida forum)



First Pix Looking north to future site of Everglades Hotel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladessite.jpg

Under Construction...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladeskeleton.jpg

Developer's Promotion

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladessketch.jpg

Grand Opening Year

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladesgrandopening.jpg

Aftermath of Hurricane of 1926

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladesafterhurricane.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladeshurricanefreigther.jpg

1930's Rare views!

Illuminated Tower and Cupola and skyline

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladestowerilluminated.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladesatnightromer.jpg

1950's views

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/everglades1950sview.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladesatnight.jpg

View from top of Everglades looking east..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladestoppatio.jpg

1960's Skyline view from Watson Island w/ 1960 Impala covertible

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/everglades1960impala.jpg

Early 1960's before removal of cupola

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/everglades1960s.jpg

Great view showing addition of neon lights after removal of cupola

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladesatnight1960s.jpg

1970's skyline view showing One Biscayne Under Construction

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/onebiscayneunderconstruction.jpg

1980's before Bayside...note Centrust Under construction on right

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/evergladesprebayside.jpg

Last view......................................................................
1980's skyline view Southeast Bank's 55 stories under construction

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/everglades1980seuconst.jpg

These old photographs reveal that history and character have a lot to do with the beauty and interest of a city. I like a city that has a legacy. Miami is awsome.

Thanks for posting those! This has to be the best thread I have seen yet. I can't believe how tiny Miami was then! Columbia was one of my favorites, Raleigh looked pretty nice too. The worst was Charlotte. but yeah, where was Atlanta? I would have liked to see some from Winston Salem though.

(oh yeah, the new York one rocked of course)!

Thanks for posting those! This has to be the best thread I have seen yet. I can't believe how tiny Miami was then! Columbia was one of my favorites, Raleigh looked pretty nice too. The worst was Charlotte. but yeah, where was Atlanta? I would have liked to see some from Winston Salem though.

(oh yeah, the new York one rocked of course)!
I searched for other major southern cities. The collection did not contain every major southern city, including Atlanta (for that time). Charlotte has probably changed the most since then. Winston Salem was the largest NC city at thye time (I think) but had no photos in the collection

Yeah..I really like seeing Old Miami too...here are some more


Miami WAS a Southern City


http://img136.exs.cx/img136/6980/4419web4hw.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/flaglerandbiscayne.jpg



Miami 1905



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/Image1.jpg




1950s


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/usaavemiamibelgiumshot.jpg



1970s


http://home.comcast.net/~fpenagos/wsb/media/689008/site1002.jpg

Sadly, the Everglades Hotel (the building with the Cupola) in Miami came down today.


http://www.pbase.com/image/38945849

Sadly, the Everglades Hotel (the building with the Cupola) in Miami came down today.


http://www.pbase.com/image/38945849

NO! Why are they tearing all the great ones down. I am upset about that.

It's being replaced by a NEW SHINY CONDO TOWER!!!

Sigh.

I remembered I had an old book of Columbia with some cool pictures in it. I apologize for the poor quality, but the book is old and it was hard to get good scans.

This is Columbia the day after the great fire in February 1865 when 2/3 of the city burned.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/historic%20photos/burning%20of%20columbia.jpg

This is the original design for the SC State House with a spire instead of a dome. I really like the spire!

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/historic%20photos/orig%20state%20house%20design.jpg

This picture is Main Street at Hampton looking North around 1900. Sylvan Jewelers is STILL in that building to this day and it looks identical! I wish we still had those trolleys, they sure do look like fun.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/historic%20photos/columbia%20trolleys.jpg

This is the Palmetto Building under construction in 1912. The other skyscraper is the National Loan and Exchange Building (Barringer Bldg now), which is being turned into apartments.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/historic%20photos/palmetto%20bldg%20under%20constr.jpg

WOW _ columbia looks larger than Atlanta in Atlanta's 1864 thread!

It's being replaced by a NEW SHINY CONDO TOWER!!!

Sigh.


well the copula had been removed for many years now (and really without it, the building looked plain and tacky)...it was a gem in it's day but has been an eyesore in the skyline for many decades...the building had been rehabilitated several times in the past with no luck....Although I hate to see such a historic building to go (it DID have character), it was time to finally move on, even historic preservationist society agreed! They also agreed that the replacement would be very, very nice!




This is what is replacing it




http://www.markzilbert.com/images/condo_pix/everglades/buildings.jpg

There is probably no US city with as much construction (skyscrapers) as Miami. Atlanta was the king of new skyscraper construction during the 1980s and 1990s - now it's Miami. The buildings shown above captures the character of Miami. It has the look of the earlier skyscrapers shown in the old panoramics.

^^yes the buildings here have a very unique style!!

WOW _ columbia looks larger than Atlanta in Atlanta's 1864 thread!

They were likely the same size - Atlanta had not hit 10,000 at that point & my guess Columbia was nearly the same size as well. Columbia did benefit from being a better planned city (well - it was built as a planned city) than Atlanta that had recently won the capitol from Milledgeville.

1960s Miami


http://img50.exs.cx/img50/6384/1970s3.jpg



1970s

http://img50.exs.cx/img50/4306/14642.jpg




1980s Miami Beach (I love this pic)



http://img50.exs.cx/img50/177/miamibeach1990s.jpg

They were likely the same size - Atlanta had not hit 10,000 at that point & my guess Columbia was nearly the same size as well. Columbia did benefit from being a better planned city (well - it was built as a planned city) than Atlanta that had recently won the capitol from Milledgeville.

Very close guess; In 1860, Atlanta's population was 9,554 and Columbia's was 8,052.

NO! Why are they tearing all the great ones down. I am upset about that.

Matt, speaking of hotels. I have a question about a hotel that I remember my family stopped at when I was a kid. I remember it pretty well for a 4 year old because it was the first motel I'd been to. It was in 1969 and we stopped at a brand-new Howard Johnson's. I remember that it was near a freeway and a boulevard type street with palmettos down the median.

I remember that it had just opened b/c the pool wasn't finished yet, and my sisters and I were pissed.

Anyway, I've been through Columbia several times since then and half-way looked for it, but never thought I'd find it again. Just wondering if you happen to know if it is still there. I'd be surprised. I'm sketchy on the height, but 3-4 floors, and it had the typical bright orange star-roofed HoJo lobby/office in the front. It would be wild if you know where it is.

We were on our way from Atlanta to Myrtle Beach.

Charboy, I moved to Columbia in 1972 and there were 2 Howard Johnsons in town at that time, 1 in Cayce just across the river from downtown at the corner of Knox Abbott Drive and State Street and the other off I-26. The Cayce location is not particularly close to any freeways, though. You might remember this one because the restaurant was across the street from the motel. I believe the restaurant probably pre-dated the motel as it seemed to be pretty old already when I went there in the early-mid 70's. The restaurant was torn down several years ago in order to build an office building, but the motel is still there. It is a Rodeway Inn now, I believe. Even though this is not close to a freeway, it is probably the one you visited because Knox Abbott Drive has a number of Palmetto and Pindo Palms lining the street. The other Howard Johnson's in Columbia is still open and it is on Bush River Road at I-26 and I-126. I doubt this is the one you stayed at because I don't recall there ever being Palmetto Trees planted along Bush River Road, but there are some at the motel, I believe. This one is close to I-20 and would have been on the way to Myrtle Beach, so I'm not really sure which one you stayed at. You're probably wondering why I remember all that...it's because it was my favorite restaurant when I was a kid and I had my 10th birthday party at the one in Cayce. I sure do miss their ice cream! I will try to remember to go out and take pictures of them this weekend; maybe that will jog your memory.

http://img72.exs.cx/img72/1606/U99869P-A.jpg




http://img72.exs.cx/img72/8550/HU043196.jpg

Some vintage DALLAS:

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/dallas/vintage_dallas.jpg

1925
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/dallas/1925.jpg

1926
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/dallas/1926.jpg

1946
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/dallas/1946.jpg

1950
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/dallas/1950.jpg

Marvelous thread... and outstanding shots of old Dallas. I used to live there, and really enjoyed learning about the past of this great American city. Many people don't realize that Dallas still has most of those old buildings today. I'd guess that about half have been revitalized. Oddly, the buildings most endangered are the high rises that rose during the 50's (The Grand Hotel, many of the buildings in the Commerce block, and the old library). Maybe somebody can give me an update on these buildings and the old Fidelity Union Life buildings (one tower built in 1948 and second in 1958). These are great buildings and are NOT the ugly mirror-glass garbage that went up a couple of decades later ... those will never be classics.

TexasStar, I wonder how many folks on this forum will recognize that the second photo that you posted of the Trinity River next to downtown is an early view of perhaps the most photographed part of Dallas. That's right it's the area that became Dealy Plaza of JFK assassination infamy. In fact, the Texas Schoolbook Depository is the building at the extreme right of the photo. Dealy was the publisher of the Dallas News (I think that was the one)... and in the late 1930s as a project of the WPA under FDR the two middle blocks closest to the railroad tracks were taken out and a curvy triple underpass was built beneath the tracks. You may be able to imagine it in the photo. I hope this was interesting. The Trinity was rerouted about one mile to the west shortly after this picture was taken. At the time, I believe it was the largest public works project in Dallas until the 1970s.

BTW: Probably the most significant high rise from the early 20th century that was demolished was the Cotton Exchange building which sat at the corner of San Jacinto and Harwood, where the city's ugliest 'scraper stands today... the one that houses the KPMG headquarters. Dallas also lost the old Medical Arts building that sat in the SE corner of the block where the absolutely fantastic old Republic Bank towers (1956 and 1964) stand today... unfortunately another block of buildings that are endangered. Cotton Exchange and Medical Arts are the two leftmost tall buildings in the last photo.

...Dallas also lost the old Medical Arts building that sat where the absolutely fantastic old Republic Bank towers (1956 and 1964) stand today... unfortunately another block of buildings that are endangered.

Thanks Charboy, I agree about the loss of Medical Arts. From photos it looks like it was a fantastic structure. But the Republic Center that replaced it is not endangered at all. The taller tower was renovated in 2000 and is leasing up as office space. The shorter tower is going to be converted to apartments. The New Republic is doing just fine.

We're still waiting for the latest developer to go public with their plans for the Mercantile Complex. So far, nothing definite. But another large building that could have faced the wrecking ball, the Fidelity Union Tower, is also being converted to apartments. I got a peek at the plans yesterday and it will be a very impressive development.

There's lots more. Check out the excellent Dallas/Ft.Worth Urban Forum for the complete rundown on all the exciting stuff happening in Downtown Dallas(and in the rest of DFW.)

http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/

I appreciate the update... haven't been there since '01... so I was wondering how things were going down there. Especially glad to hear about the Fidelity Union complex.

Question: Has it been decided what to do with the old Dallas Grand. As I recall, there was a plan to demolish the ugly parking garage (interlocking rings) across from it for a park which would be great for that section of dt. But Laura Miller wanted the Grand to be demolished too (horrors!).

With the Grand still standing, that block would make perhaps the most unique city block of early postwar architecture in the south (maybe the country). I believe it's worth saving and I hope the owner(s) do too. Have they renovated the old police station (nee City Hall) yet? I think they were discussing it.

Man, just thinking about Dallas' downtown, I'm getting an itch to go back for a visit. It is a great laboratory for studying the 20th century American urban trends.

Half of the pics arent loading up and are just red x's.....

Half of the pics arent loading up and are just red x's.....
hmm I just checked and they all loaded for me. Is anyone else having this problem?

I was able to see them.

lovely old pics of the skylines, lets hope they can be used as inspiration for future designs.

Man Birmingham seems more vibrant back then than it does now, but I guess the reason there's so many people on the streets is because not everybody owned a car.

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/samclark/dallas/1950.jpg

wow. That's Dallas? nice picture. looks pretty dense.

Located my first thread - worth sharing again.....