The City of Toronto Archives has over one million photographs within its collection, and almost 50,000 are able to be viewed online. Below are just a few of the Archives' staff favourites.
Reproductions of all of our images can be purchased from the Archives. See our guide on how to order digital reproductions of our photographs or contact us. For a complete list of images by series, see our list of digitized photos.
Bloor Street Viaduct, looking east, July 18, 1917
City of Toronto Archives
Series 372, Sub-series 10, Item 841
Taken by city photographer Arthur Goss, this photograph of the Bloor Street Viaduct under construction was used as the cover image for the City of Toronto Archives' book Toronto's Visual Legacy, celebrating the city's 175th anniversary. The viaduct gained fame internationally through Michael Ondaatje's novel, In the Skin of a Lion.
Old Union Station, 1907
City of Toronto Archives
Fonds 1244, Item 99
This iconic image of Old Union Station was captured by freelance photographer William James. This image depicts the old Union Station in the heyday of steam locomotion. Old Union Station, located to the west of the present station, was demolished in 1927.
Diving horse, 1908
City of Toronto Archives
Fonds 1244, Item 192
Another Wiliam James image catches Toronto's famous diving horse plunging into Lake Ontario. J.W. Gorman's equine show was a popular attraction at Hanlan's Point on Toronto Island during the early twentieth century.
21 rear, Elizabeth Street, May 15, 1913
City of Toronto Archives
Series 372, Sub-series 32, Item 187
Commissioned by the Toronto Health Department, this Arthur Goss photograph was to be included in a report regarding the poor state of Toronto's housing. The property was located in The Ward a notorious slum in the heart of the city. This property, demolished soon after, was located where the Nathan Philips Square ice rink is today. You can see Old City Hall in the background.
Group on car on Bay Street, May 7, 1945
City of Toronto Archives
Fonds 1266, Item 96241
This shot was captured by John Boyd, photographer for the Globe and Mail. It was taken on Bay Street on May 7, 1945, the day Germany unconditionally surrendered to the allies. The Archives has over 140,000 photographs in the Globe and Mail collection, many of them taken by Boyd, from 1922 to 1953.
Three Firemen, 1910
City of Toronto Archives
Fonds 1244, Item 15
Three members of the Toronto Fire Brigade are the subject of this Wiliam James image. They are depicted walking down Lansdowne Avenue, north of Davenport Road. It was claimed that the firemen had to walk half a mile leaving their fire wagons, which could not make it through the mud!
Hunters and dogs, ca.1907
City of Toronto Archives
Fonds 1244, Item 159
William James was a freelance photographer who also sold many images to the Toronto Star. This photograph depicts foxhunters and their hounds cantering over the ravine bridge on Bathurst Street, just north of St. Clair Avenue.
Fishermen in Grenadier pond, July 1939
City of Toronto Archives
Fonds 1231, Item 629
This rustic–looking scene was taken on the banks of Grenadier Pond in High Park just before the outbreak of the Second World War. The pond has been used by anglers since the early nineteenth–century, and the City continues to permit this sport today, provided you have a licence.
Queen Street subway, looking east, November 17, 1897
City of Toronto Archives
Series 376, File 2, Item 8
Commissioned by the City Engineer's Department, this photograph illustrates the near completion of the construction of the subway, or underpass, at Queen and Dufferin Streets. Visible in the background is the Gladstone Hotel.
Drinking fountain at College Street and Spadina Avenue, April 26, 1899
City of Toronto Archives
Series 376, File 2, Item 49
Commissioned by the City Engineer and taken by F.W. Micklethwaite, this photograph shows a drinking fountain just south of the Spadina Circle. These drinking fountains were commonplace in Toronto in the late nineteenth century, with a trough for horses, a common cup for people and even a basin for dogs! The Health department later deemed them a public health hazard and replaced them. One remains on King Street East near St. James Cathedral.
King Street East, south side looking west, 1856
City of Toronto Archives
Fonds 1498, Item 1
One of the earliest photographs taken of Toronto, this 150 year old image shows Toronto's main commercial thoroughfare at that time, King Street East. In the foreground is the The Golden Lion, a dry–goods store and one of the city's most famous retailers. Constructed in 1847, this building was substantially altered and expanded in 1866.
King Street East, south side looking east, 1856
City of Toronto Archives
Fonds 1498, Item 2
This is the second image of a series of twenty-five taken by photographers Armstrong, Beer and Hime. This photograph shows King Street East at the intersection with Leader Lane (known as Berczy Lane at the time). The Archives has a web exhibit based on this series of images by Armstrong, Beere and Hime, titled The Earliest Known Photographs of Toronto.
Old Registry Building - store room, July 31, 1925
City of Toronto Archives
Series 372, Subseries 41, Item 148
The Old Registry Building housed property deeds and land titles. Designed by Charles S. Cobb, and built between 1914 and 1917, it was demolished in 1964 to make way for New City Hall.
Southwest corner Yonge and Manor Road, November 15, 1922
City of Toronto Archives
Series 372, Subseries 1, Item 542
A builder's sales office for a new residential development just north of Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Much of the housing stock on Manor Road from this time still exisits.
Raising last stone to top of Canada Life Building, 1929
City of Toronto Archives
Series 1244, Item 3182
Opened in 1931, the Canada Life Building was the largest office building in the city at the time.
These and thousands of other images are available to purchase from the City of Toronto Archives. If you can't find what you're looking for on our website, come and pay us a visit.
