Then & Now: Downtown Christmas scenes

Christmas lights draped across Phillips Avenue and hanging from light posts have been a holiday tradition in downtown for decades. Over the years, however, their appearance has changed.

This is downtown Sioux Falls this Christmas season.

Charlene Hall shared this photo taken on Phillips Avenue in 1968. She called it an “idyllic Christmas scene that is burned into my memory. I think our childhood Christmas was literally perfect for a movie.”

Some of the businesses in the photo on the west side of the street are Fonder Sewing Machine Co., Bechtold Jewelers, Electric Construction and Nervig Travel. Coming back north to south on the east side are Shriver’s, Smith’s Jewelry, Bill’s Shoe Store and Golden Rule Bakery.

Siouxland Heritage Museums also has posted a vintage black-and-white video that shows more of how Sioux Falls decorated for Christmas during the height of the Great Depression.

View it here:

Here’s another view of Phillips Avenue decorated for the Christmas holidays from 1960.

Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. now is in charge of arranging Christmas lights in the city’s heart. These photos from the 1990s are from its collection.

This DTSF photo is dated 2010.

Today, Christmas lights extend from Phillips Avenue downtown to a dazzling display at Falls Park, bringing light and cheer along many more blocks. These photos were taken by photographer Paul Schiller.