Rockford: 1920 And Beyond

Rockford's economic boom of the early twentieth century continued into the Roaring Twenties when Rockford's newly-erected skyscrapers symbolized the city's "sky's the limit" ambitions. But the good times came to a crashing halt with the arrival of the Great Depression in October 1929. With its longstanding blue-collar industrial roots, Rockford would enjoy renewed and even greater prosperity as it readily capitalized on the World War II war effort and the post-war economic boom years.

With a collection of nearly 240 vintage postcards, Rockford: 1920 and Beyond captures this dynamic, ever-changing era as Rockford transformed into "Illinois' Second City." Inside, see now-familiar skyscrapers like the Rockford News Tower, Talcott Building, and Faust Hotel enliven Rockford's downtown skyline. Take a nostalgic trip to the Blackhawk Park Zoo and the Central Park and Kiddieland amusement parks. Watch post-war "car culture" change the face of the city with its drive-ins, shopping centers, and expressways. Witness the World War II revival of Rockford's storied Camp Grant. See the famed Wagon Wheel Resort in its high-flying, star-studded Hollywood heydays. Marvel at the destructive power of Rockford's deadly "Cyclone of '28."