Historic photos from around Toronto

There are a number of great web sites that provide historic photos from around Toronto. As I was collecting them for an interactive historic map of the city I realized that it was also interesting to find photos that were taken around the current time of the year. How much snow was there at the end of March in 1916, for example?

And so this page was born. It will always show a collection of photos from around Toronto over the last few weeks.

You can also see all the historic photos for a given neighbourhood. A subset of the photos have also been arranged by subject.

Be sure to subscribe to the RSS feed here for regular updates.

Next update:

The next update will be available tomorrow, including Casa Loma 113 years ago ( in 1912 ).

February 7 images permanent link to this day
1914 Historic photo from Saturday, February 7, 1914 - Sketch of proposed stone gates at Dufferin Grove South from Gladstone Avenue (Feb 14, 1913 is original photo) in Dufferin GroveSketch of proposed stone gates at Dufferin Grove South from Gladstone Avenue (Feb 14, 1913 is original photo)
(Categorized under: Architectural drawings --- Ornamental gate )
111 years ago - Saturday, February 7, 1914 - Dufferin Grove
Max temp: 2.8°C - Min temp: -7.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1927 Historic photo from Monday, February 7, 1927 - Grand Opera House on Adelaide St, east, from Bay, noon, slow moving truck forced to use second traffic lane by parked cars, faster traffic in turn forced over to wrong side of street to pass in DowntownGrand Opera House on Adelaide St, east, from Bay, noon, slow moving truck forced to use second traffic lane by parked cars, faster traffic in turn forced over to wrong side of street to pass
(Categorized under: Downtown theatres )
98 years ago - Monday, February 7, 1927 - Downtown at 11 Adelaide Street West
Max temp: 2.2°C - Min temp: -2.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
February 6 images permanent link to this day
1925 Historic photo from Friday, February 6, 1925 - Knox College in the snow in University of Toronto (U of T)Knox College in the snow
100 years ago - Friday, February 6, 1925 - University of Toronto (U of T)
Max temp: 0.6°C - Min temp: -4.4°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1975 Historic photo from Thursday, February 6, 1975 - Snow-covered Eatons Centre construction site looking north - top right is The Art Metropole building at 241 Yonge (w/ billboard) in City HallSnow-covered Eatons Centre construction site looking north - top right is The Art Metropole building at 241 Yonge (w/ billboard)
50 years ago - Thursday, February 6, 1975 - City Hall at 241 Yonge Street
Max temp: 0.6°C - Min temp: -4.4°C - 0.3cm of snowfall - 5.0cm of snow on the ground (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
2016 Historic photo from Saturday, February 6, 2016 - Beare's Ltd. ghost sign - faded, brick-painted advertisement for the stationers and printers in Alexandra ParkBeare's Ltd. ghost sign - faded, brick-painted advertisement for the stationers and printers
9 years ago - Saturday, February 6, 2016 - Alexandra Park at 51 Wolseley Street s.w. corner at Ryerson Ave
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
2016 Historic photo from Saturday, February 6, 2016 - Beare's Ltd. north elevation with two red awnings in Alexandra ParkBeare's Ltd. north elevation with two red awnings
9 years ago - Saturday, February 6, 2016 - Alexandra Park at 51 Wolseley Street s.w. corner at Ryerson Ave.
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
February 5 images permanent link to this day
1966 Historic photo from Saturday, February 5, 1966 - Aerial photograph of Scarborough College Science  and Humanities wing (example of Brutalism) in ScarboroughAerial photograph of Scarborough College Science and Humanities wing (example of Brutalism)
59 years ago - Saturday, February 5, 1966 - Scarborough
Max temp: -5.6°C - Min temp: -12.2°C - 23.0cm of snow on the ground (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the University of Toronto Archives)
1978 Historic photo from Sunday, February 5, 1978 - Ontario Science Centre - soviet spaceship - CCCP on the side in Don MillsOntario Science Centre - soviet spaceship - CCCP on the side
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
47 years ago - Sunday, February 5, 1978 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
February 4 images permanent link to this day
1914 Historic photo from Wednesday, February 4, 1914 - Moore Avenue, Belt Line railway looking southwest in Moore ParkMoore Avenue, Belt Line railway looking southwest
(Categorized under: Belt Line trail )
111 years ago - Wednesday, February 4, 1914 - Moore Park
Max temp: 2.8°C - Min temp: -5.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1956 Historic photo from Saturday, February 4, 1956 - Toronto Hunt Club on Kingston Road, s. side, between Woodglen Road & Haig Ave in Hunt ClubToronto Hunt Club on Kingston Road, s. side, between Woodglen Road & Haig Ave
69 years ago - Saturday, February 4, 1956 - Hunt Club at 1355 Kingston Road
Max temp: 0.6°C - Min temp: -8.9°C - 11.0cm of snow on the ground (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1984 Historic photo from Saturday, February 4, 1984 - 247-249 Dundas St E and an awful addition (which remains to this day) in Garden District247-249 Dundas St E and an awful addition (which remains to this day)
41 years ago - Saturday, February 4, 1984 - Garden District at 247 Dundas Street East
Max temp: 2.8°C - Min temp: 0.7°C - 3.2cm of snowfall - 11.0cm of snow on the ground (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1985 Historic photo from Monday, February 4, 1985 - Three foot buffer strip to stop the Spadina Expressway by Eglinton West TTC station in FairbankThree foot buffer strip to stop the Spadina Expressway by Eglinton West TTC station
40 years ago - Monday, February 4, 1985 - Fairbank at 1300 Eglinton Ave West foot of Allen Road
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
February 3 images permanent link to this day
1912 Historic photo from Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Old houses - northwest corner of Trinity and Fronts Streets in Distillery DistrictOld houses - northwest corner of Trinity and Fronts Streets
113 years ago - Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Distillery District at 346 Front Street East
Max temp: -7.2°C - Min temp: -15.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Old wooden houses  - 174 Sackville Street just north of Shuter in Regent ParkOld wooden houses - 174 Sackville Street just north of Shuter
113 years ago - Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Regent Park
Max temp: -7.2°C - Min temp: -15.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Tracing of the Toronto high level pumping station in Republic of RathnellyTracing of the Toronto high level pumping station
(Categorized under: Architectural drawings --- High level pumping station )
113 years ago - Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Republic of Rathnelly at 25 Poplar Plains Road just north of Macpherson Ave
Max temp: -7.2°C - Min temp: -15.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Pump valves tracing diagram - High Level Pumping station in Republic of RathnellyPump valves tracing diagram - High Level Pumping station
(Categorized under: High level pumping station )
113 years ago - Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Republic of Rathnelly at 35 Poplar Plains Road north of Dupont Street
Max temp: -7.2°C - Min temp: -15.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1977 Historic photo from Thursday, February 3, 1977 - Co-discoverer of insulin, Dr. Charles H. Best looking over Bantings notes, 77, in reproduction of their office (in the Ontario Science Centre) in Don MillsCo-discoverer of insulin, Dr. Charles H. Best looking over Bantings notes, 77, in reproduction of their office (in the Ontario Science Centre)
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
48 years ago - Thursday, February 3, 1977 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
February 2 images permanent link to this day
1920 Historic photo from Monday, February 2, 1920 - Westminster Church fire aftermath - news reel - Bloor East at Park Road in YorkvilleWestminster Church fire aftermath - news reel - Bloor East at Park Road
(Categorized under: Churches and other places of worship )
105 years ago - Monday, February 2, 1920 - Yorkville at 117 Bloor Street East at Park Road
Link to archive record - Map location
1920 Historic photo from Monday, February 2, 1920 - Westminster United Church after Jan 30th 1920 fire in YorkvilleWestminster United Church after Jan 30th 1920 fire
(Categorized under: Churches and other places of worship )
105 years ago - Monday, February 2, 1920 - Yorkville at 121 Bloor Street West
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1920 Historic photo from Monday, February 2, 1920 - Westminster (Presbyterian) Church, fire ruins, 49 Bloor east. Toronto, Ont in YorkvilleWestminster (Presbyterian) Church, fire ruins, 49 Bloor east. Toronto, Ont
(Categorized under: Churches and other places of worship )
105 years ago - Monday, February 2, 1920 - Yorkville at 121 Bloor Street East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Library and Archives Canada)
1920 Historic photo from Monday, February 2, 1920 - Westminster Church fire - bystanders looking at frozen Church in YorkvilleWestminster Church fire - bystanders looking at frozen Church
(Categorized under: Churches and other places of worship )
105 years ago - Monday, February 2, 1920 - Yorkville at 121 Bloor Street East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Library and Archives Canada)
2024 Historic photo from Friday, February 2, 2024 - Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport - 85 Years of Flight in Toronto IslandBilly Bishop Toronto City Airport - 85 Years of Flight
1 years ago - Friday, February 2, 2024 - Toronto Island at 2 Eireann Quay
Link to archive record - Map location
February 1 images permanent link to this day
1928 Historic photo from Wednesday, February 1, 1928 - Queen Street East subway at De Grassi Street in Riverside-South RiverdaleQueen Street East subway at De Grassi Street
97 years ago - Wednesday, February 1, 1928 - Riverside-South Riverdale
Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: -9.4°C - 0.5cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1953 Historic photo from Sunday, February 1, 1953 - Windmill for the OKeefe bottling plant on the west side of Yonge St. north of McNairn Ave. in Bedford ParkWindmill for the OKeefe bottling plant on the west side of Yonge St. north of McNairn Ave.
72 years ago - Sunday, February 1, 1953 - Bedford Park
Max temp: -9.4°C - Min temp: -13.9°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)