23 photos of Congress Street through the years
Take a look to see how much the downtown artery has changed through the years.
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Traffic shown here crossing the Freeway at Congress Street will be routed up overpasses permitting a constant flow of Freeway traffic without interference from cross traffic on January 26, 1956. Tucson Citizen photo
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Daily scene along Congress Street in 1939. Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Undated scene at night along Congress Street. Tucson Citizen file photo.
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
This crowd came to Stone and Congress on the Friday after Thanksgiving in 1955 to welcome Santa Claus. He's near the center of the photo at the left, almost hidden by the throng. Jack Sheaffer / The Arizona Daily Star
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
A livery stable at corner of Congress Street and Sixth Avenue before 1900. Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Jakes Quick Lunch at 78 W Congress St, left, was situated next to landmark Legal Tender as well as other businesses near Church Avenue on June 26, 1966. All the buildings were demolished to make way for the Urban Renewal project of the 1960s and 70s. Photo by Mark Godfrey / Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
A boy rides a bicycle past the Lyric movie theater 171 W Congress as well as other businesses near Meyer Avenue on June 26, 1966. All the buildings were demolished to make way for the county government buildings as part of the Urban Renewal project of the 1960s and 70s. Photo by Mark Godfrey / Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
A group marches in a parade along West Congress on June 26, 1966. All the buildings were demolished on both sides of the road to make way for the county government buildings as part of the Urban Renewal project of the 1960s and 70s. Photo by Mark Godfrey / Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
A man crosses East Congress Street at Arizona Avenue as this portion up to Fifth Avenue was falling on hard times with only one small shop still in business on May 3, 1967. Times were tough for other sections of East Congress and other downtown businesses as well. Photo by Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
In March 1975 it was announced that the vacant S.H. Kress & Co. building at 97 E Congress St was to be renovated and to take on a new appearance after local investors wanted to remodel the structure. Twenty years before when it was first built in 1955, the building had the city's first escalator that descended to the basement selling floor, according to the Tucson Citizen. Photo by Bruce Hopkins / Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
For years, the Lerner Shops has been at the northeast corner of Congress St. and Stone Ave., yet after repeated failed attempts to bring in retail to the empty building, the building has been sold for $800,000 to a telecommunications company that plans to fill it with high tech switching equipment despite the high foot traffic at the corner. Photo by David Sanders / The Arizona Daily Star
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Ramon M. Camacho remembers taking this photo of Myerson's White House department store in 1979. Myerson's was on Congress Street. Camacho to deliver packages to Myersons and pick up soup to take to the Martin Drug store. The Arizona Daily Star
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
After 40 years the Plaza Theater, at 132 W. Congress St. is being torn down. The movie house, which has featured Spanish-language films in recent years, is being demolished to make way for the widening of Congress Street, part of Tucson's urban renewal project on May 14, 1969. Photo by Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen.
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Reuben Gold's and other buildings along West Congress in downtown Tucson before being demolished. Jack Sheaffer / The Arizona Daily Star
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
1934 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo Parade along Congress Street. Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
The 'Talk of the Town, an old building in downtown Tucson was part of a 115-year-old building at 26 E. Congress St. It was demolished as part of Rio Nuevo, according to the Star. Gary Gaynor / Arizona Daily Star
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
The Arizona Citizen on the northwest corner of Congress Street and Main Street. Courtesy of the Tucson Citizen.
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Congress Street in downtown Tucson, looking from Stone Ave. at noon in November, 1978. P.K. Weis / Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Congress Street in Tucson, looking east from the Chase Bank building at Stone Ave. in August, 1980. P.K. Weis / Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
The boarded up Fox Theatre on West Congress Street, as people wait for their bus to arrive on December 30, 1980. Darr Beiser / Tucson Citizen.
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Workers lay out the street car tracks on Congress Street. The photo was taken from Church Avenue and Congress Street about the turn of the 20th century. The city was proud of its own new electric trolley tracks on Congress Street, a sure sign the city was a growing and flourishing metropolis. Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Traffic along West Congress Street near the Santa Cruz River moves along on July 24, 1970. City authorities had decided to replace the bridge starting in the fall. Photo by Ross Humphreys / Tucson Citizen
23 photos of Congress St through the years
Updated
Workers continue demolishing the former YMCA building on West Congress Street near North Court Avenue to make way for the new Pima County adminstration and courthouse buildings on October 13, 1966. Photo by Bill Hopkins / Tucson Citizen
