More Cool Photos of Indiana Christmas Past

Christmas decor at Indy’s L.S. Ayres Department Store (c. 1940s)


Decorated Christmas tree. Rushville, Indiana (c. 1903)


Christmas decor in an Indianapolis Car Dealership (1970)


Watching television with Christmas decor up.  New Carlisle, Indiana (1958)


A crowd gathered around Broadway Fountain in Madison, Indiana (c. 1900)


Decorations inside a Valparaiso church for Children’s Day/ Christmas (c. 1885)


Man falls asleep after exchanging gifts in Wabash, Indiana (1960)


The “Largest Living Christmas Tree” at Santa Claus Land—75 feet tall, lit by 1300 lightbulbs (1959)




Children waiting in line to ride the Christmas train at L.S. Ayres in Indianapolis (c. 1985)


Anderson, Indiana (1970s)


Skating on the frozen Mississinewa River in Matthews, Indiana (1910)


Terre Haute’s Pedro Jones Tavern (1942)


Santa visiting Barbwood Elementary (1983)

Courtesy of the Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis Recorder Collection

The 1954′ ‘Santa Colossal’ at Indy’s Union Station (1949)


Highway Commission Employees’ Christmas Party (1952)


There are a few towns I’d love to see in more vintage Christmas photos, if any readers are willing to share—Vincennes, Madison, North Manchester, French Lick, and Lynn. Email me at admin@orangebeanindiana.com.