Archive Gallery

Click on any of the pictures below to start a slideshow of scanned photographs from our historical archives!



  • Paducah Marine Ways<br /><div align="left">Paducah Marine Ways was one of Paducah's earliest industries, it and the Civil War arrived closely together. One of its operators Eli Murray (think Merrimac) had invented and patented a method of running railroad tracks into the river bed. On these rails he had cradles on railroad wheels attached to a steam engine on the top of the bank. Boats would pull over the cradles and be pulled out of the water for repairs. Although it was a very busy concern for many years it is now closed and most signs of its existence have disappeared.</div>
    Paducah Marine Ways
  • Paducah City Hall<br /><div align="left">Paducah city hall originally designed in 1882 by architect D. A. McKinnon. And originally only had two floors, a third floor was added to the building in 1909. This beautiful building was the seat of Paducah government until 1965 when a new city hall was built. Unfortunately the building was torn down and is now a parking lot.</div>
    Paducah City Hall
  • Broadway Street<br /><div align="left">Broadway in Paducah during the height of the 1937 flood looking east, toward the river. The flood came on the end of a terrible ice and sleet storm. The river was a whopping seven miles wide at its highest point. A dock was built at 28th and Broadway to unload all who were evacuated from the city.<br /></div>
    Broadway Street
  • City Market During Flood<br /><div align="left">The city market during the flood of 1937 as seen from the Kentucky avenue side looking toward Broadway. Notice the cupola in the center of the building that's now missing. And Jones hardware can be seen on the left of the street. Another proof that mother nature will do what she wants.<br /></div>
    City Market During Flood
  • Firefighting Ladder Truck<br /><div align="left">Paducah firemen demonstrate their ladder truck in the early 1950s. This scene is on Broadway looking west, away from the river. Notice the large Columbia sign to the left, and the Hotel Irvin Cobb a little farther down the street. The Columbia opened April 18, 1927, and just a short two years later in April 1929 the Cobb was opened and dedicated with none other than Irvin Cobb himself as the guest speaker.<br /></div>
    Firefighting Ladder Truck
  • New Richmond House<br /><div align="left">By 1896 the old Richmond House had burned to the ground and the New Richmond had been built. This time instead of a lumber building it was a large inviting brick hotel. And it was under new management of L.A. Lagomarsino, famous restaurant and hotel manager. Notice how up to date this photo is with the electric street cars. The flood of 1937 dealt the final death blow to the building and it was torn down in 1939.<br /></div>
    New Richmond House
  • City Market circa 1905-1906<br /><div align="left">City market showing the center of the building where the meat vendors were situated. This photo is circa 1905-106, notice the high ceilings and opening windows with the fans throughout. All this helped to keep the heat up from the floor and off the meat products.<br /></div>
    City Market circa 1905-1906
  • The Custom House<br /><div align="left">The Custom House was started in 1882 and finished in 1885, but added onto another two times. Notice the open air cupola on top where you could look all over the city.<br /></div>
    The Custom House
  • Western Union office circa 1927<br /><div align="left">The well equipped Western Union office in 1927. Notice the two young men who carried the telegrams wearing the hats to the front right of the photo.<br /></div>
    Western Union office circa 1927
  • Red Top Cabs<br /><div align="left">In 1931 a fleet of red top cabs added to the transportation methods of the people living and visiting in Paducah.<br /></div>
    Red Top Cabs
  • The Hotel Irvin Cobb<br /><div align="left">From the ground up. The Hotel Irvin Cobb built on the former home site of the Weil family. Businessman Adolph Weil is credited wtih the building and it was dedicated by Irvin S. Cobb in April 1929.<br /></div>
    The Hotel Irvin Cobb
  • Carnegie Public Library circa 1910<br /><div align="left">Standing at the corner of Ninth and Broadway this circa 1910 photo shows some of the interior of the Carnegie Public Library. Built in 1904 with funding from Andrew Carnegie, it was damaged by a fire in 1969. After a lengthy and sometimes heated debate among Paducah citizens the old building was demolished and a new library was built.<br /></div>
    Carnegie Public Library circa 1910
  • Union Station in the 1950s<br /><div align="left">Union Station as it appeared in the early 1950s. It was the passenger depot for the Illinois Central railroad, complete with a lunch counter and barber shop. Passenger rail service ceased operation in the mid-1950s.<br /></div>
    Union Station in the 1950s
  • McCracken County Courthouse<br /><div align="left">McCracken county courthouse as seen here served as the seat of county government from 1857-61 until the completion of the new one in 1939-43. It was sitting on the corner of 6th and Washington Street.<br /></div>
    McCracken County Courthouse
  • Augusta Tilghman High School<br /><div align="left">Augusta Tilghman high school seen here shortly after being built in 1921. Notice the auditorium had not yet been added onto the right side of the building. The sons of General Lloyd Tilghman donated the property and the school was named after the wife of the General.<br /></div>
    Augusta Tilghman High School
  • DuBois-Robertson Drugstore<br />DuBois-Robertson Drugstore, with mule delivery wagon, 412-414 Broadway.
    DuBois-Robertson Drugstore
  • Dudley Dairy<br /><div align="left">Dudley Dairy was one of the many fine dairies operating in the Paducah area. This wagon had somewhat more comfortable rubber tires on wood spokewheels. In the background you can see the top of the Ritz Hotel. Mr. J.C. Dudley, a fine gentleman and patron of the market house museum worked with his father in this business before going into the insurance business after WWII, and at 95 he looks half his age and navigates around town with no problem. Must have been growing up on that Dudley Milk.<br /></div>
    Dudley Dairy
  • Southern Textiles<br /><div align="left">Southern Textiles began operation in 1909 as a manufacturer of hosiery products. This photo is circa 1930-40 and is showing workers making products sold the world over.<br /></div>
    Southern Textiles
  • Wilson's Candy Store<br />Wilson’s Candy Store Interior, Broadway,1926
    Wilson's Candy Store
  • Rhodes Burford Furniture Store<br />Rhodes Burford Furniture Store Employees, 1930
    Rhodes Burford Furniture Store
  • G W Robertson Ice Company circa 1900<br />G W Robertson Ice Company-early 1900’s: wagons, mules, horses and employees
    G W Robertson Ice Company circa 1900
  • Kirchoff's Bakery<br />
    Kirchoff's Bakery
  • Paducah Wharf Boat Company<br />Paducah Wharf Boat Company, foot of Broadway, early 1900’s
    Paducah Wharf Boat Company
  • D E Wlison’s Candy Kitchen and Bookstore<br />D E Wlison’s Candy Kitchen and Bookstore, Broadway, early 1900’s
    D E Wlison’s Candy Kitchen and Bookstore
  • Broadway, circa 1890<br />Broadway looking west from 3rd Street, 1890
    Broadway, circa 1890
  • Mechanic’s Trust and Savings Bank<br />Mechanic’s Trust and Savings Bank, 225 Broadway
    Mechanic’s Trust and Savings Bank
  • Paddlewheeler Dick Fowler<br />Paddlewheeler Dick Fowler underway
    Paddlewheeler Dick Fowler
  • Farmer’s Tobacco Factory<br />Farmer’s Tobacco Factory, home wagon yard
    Farmer’s Tobacco Factory
  • Alben Barkley<br />Alben Barkley casting vote for himself in hometown precinct, Paducah, with second wife at his side
    Alben Barkley
  • Irvin Cobb at the wheel<br />Paducah native Irvin Cobb at wheel of paddlewheeler Irvin S Cobb on Tennessee River, early 1900’s
    Irvin Cobb at the wheel
  • WWII Bomber Sweet Sue’s Duke of Paducah<br />WWII Bomber Airplane, Sweet Sue’s Duke of Paducah with three of crew, Ralph DeJanvette, Paul Randall, and John Kishlo in front.
    WWII Bomber Sweet Sue’s Duke of Paducah
  • Paducah Chiefs Baseball Team, 1950<br />
    Paducah Chiefs Baseball Team, 1950
  • Paducah Police Department, 1930’s<br /> 
    Paducah Police Department, 1930’s
   
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