Photo Gallery

Historical Image Collection

Step back in time through this curated gallery of photographs that capture Clear Lake’s rich history. Thanks to the generous contributions of the Friends of the Clear Lake Historical Society and the Clear Lake Public Library, hundreds of historical images have been preserved and shared with the community. Explore by category or simply browse to images from from Clear Lake’s past.

You can use the search bar below to search for specific images.

Browse
Business
Hotel
Public
Recreation
Restaurant
Tourist
Utility
People
Event
Place
Person
1908 Aerial Clear Lake
1914 Fish Haul
1936 Frozen Water Tower
2022 Art Sale Poster
4th of July Fireworks 1950
Aerial I-35 & Hwy 18 Overpass
Aerial Witke, Blue Horizon, Surf
Al & Louise Allen
All-Veterans Social Ctr 1950s
Arts Center 1990s
Arts Center Scuplture Park
Ashland, Christopher
Auto Routes Map 1930’s
Axelsen, Max M. 1
Band Shell 1950s
Band Stand @ 1870
Barber Shop Main Ave circa 1910
Barrel Drive In 1960s
Barrel Drive In 2010s
Barrel Drive In 2010s
Bates Wagon Shop 1900s
Bay Side Park 1910
Colorful, Lively, Expansive, Nostalgic, Scenic
Bayside Aerial
Ben Franklin Store 1940s
Bicycle Shop Main Ave
Big Muskie Cartoon
Bike Trail
Bike Trail sign
Load More
Aerial Witke, Blue Horizon, Surf
All-Veterans Social Ctr 1950s
Barber Shop Main Ave circa 1910
Barrel Drive In 1960s
Barrel Drive In 2010s
Barrel Drive In 2010s
Bates Wagon Shop 1900s
Bay Side Park 1910
Ben Franklin Store 1940s
Bicycle Shop Main Ave
Blue Horizon Motel-1957
C L Independent Telephone Co. @ 1910
Carl Fox House
Cerro Gordo Bank
Grand, Prosperous, Architectural, Downtown, Landmark
Cerro Gordo Bank 1909
Cerro-Gordo-State-Bank
Choate & Chizek Ice Truck
Clear Lake Auto 1910s
Clear Lake Bank 1880;s
Stately, Historic, Cornerstone, Prosperous, Foundational
Clear Lake Bank 1880s
Clear Lake Bank Expansion
Clear Lake Dairy Bottle
Clear Lake Theater
Clear Lake Visitor Center 2026
Iconic scene Water Tower, Lady of the Lake, lake walk
Clear Lake Waterfront
SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA
Corner Drug 1980’s
Community-Focused, Familiar, Trusted, Local, Gathering
Corner Drug Store 2006
Dairy Queen
Load More
Quaint, Lakeside, Welcoming, Retro, Relaxing
Billy’s Shoreline Motel
Elks Hotel and Trolley
Henningsen Boat Livery Shady Beach
Hilltop Motel-1955
Island House Hotel built 1870 burned 1875
Island House Hotel
Lake House Hotel across from City Park
Lake House Hotel
Lake House Hotel 1880s
Lake View House
Lake View House
Lake-View-House-1878
Elegant, Historic, Lakeside, Welcoming, Landmark
Oaks Hotel
Oaks Hotel
Elegant, Historic, Lakeside, Hospitality, Landmark
Oaks Hotel 1915
Oaks Hotel 1920s
Outing Club circa 1930
P M Park Main Hall
Ritz Hotel Bayside 1930’s
Retro, Welcoming, Roadside, Dining, Lodging
Silver Boot Motel and Restaurant
Stevens (Oakwood Park) Hotel
Aerial I-35 & Hwy 18 Overpass
Arts Center Scuplture Park
Band Shell 1950s
Clear Lake Public Library, opened in 1916 with funds from Carnegie Foundation corner of N 4th and 2nd Ave, Masonic Temple to the left of library
Carnegie Library
Central Gardens
Central Park and Main 1870’s
Central School Fire 1990
Central School Fire 1990s
City Beach 1940’s
City Hall & Fire Station 1955
City Park and Autos 1920s
City Park and Bandshell
City Park Bandshell
City Park Fence 1870s
City-Park 1910s
CL High School 1950s
Clear Lake City Office 1965
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Clear Lake Water Tower
Elks Hotel and Trolley
Fire station 2010
Fish Hatchery 1930s
Gates Band and Bandshell
Hwy 18 Relocation
Junior High Fire 1975
New elementary school opened in 1930s located on S 8th Street
Lincoln School
Lincoln-School
Replacement for 1900s building, became Central Elementary in 1935 and replaced with condominiums in 2004
New School Building 1915
Post Office 1965
Load More
1914 Fish Haul
Bay Side Park 1910
Big Muskie Cartoon
Billy Lou Cabin
Campgrounds Tent
Chutes Water Slide
City Beach 1950s
City Beach 1970s
City Beach Diving Board
Clear Lake City Beach
Crusader Sailboat
Crusader Sailboat 1908
Elizabeth Sailboat 1879
Ice Boat Racers 1900s
Just Before the Race 1940’s
Knight Errant Sailboat
Lady of the Isle-P. 1880’s
McIntosh Woods Park
Muskie 2025
Outing Club circa 1930
Outing Club Dining Room
Outing Club Entrance 1910s
Outing Club Lakeside
Outing Club Veranda
Park Theater circa 1940
Peterson's Bath House and swimmers
Petersen’s Bath House & Toboggan Slide
Peterson Bathhouse
Silver Boot Entrance
Load More
June and Johnny’s Restaurant
Charming, Nostalgic, Lakeside, Community, Gathering
Light House Drive Inn
P M Park Main Hall
Randy’s Cafe, Randy Cash
Soda Grill Ad
Witke’s Restaurant-1950s
Cozy, Beloved, Community, Classic, Welcoming
Witkes Restaurant
Auto Routes Map 1930’s
Bay Side Park 1910
Colorful, Lively, Expansive, Nostalgic, Scenic
Bayside Aerial
Big Muskie Cartoon
Billy Lou Cabin
Captain Fun 1970s
Chutes Water Slide
Clear Lake 1930s
Gates Band and Bandshell
Island Queen
Lady of the Isle-P. 1880’s
Lady of the Lake 2011
Park Theater circa 1940
Peterson's Bath House and swimmers
Petersen’s Bath House & Toboggan Slide
Peterson’s Water Slide
Rediculous Day Program
Silver Boot Amusement Park
Historic, Iconic, Music, Dance, Landmark
Surf Ballroom 1935
Surf Ballroom Postcard
Vibrant, Iconic, Retro, Musical, Treasured
Surf Ballroom Postcard
Vacationland 1950s
Whitaker's Dance Hall, Bowling Alley and Dock
Whitaker’s Dance Hall
White Pier
White Pier at the end of Main Street
White Pier and Zepher Speed boat
Winter Dance Party Monument
Located on North Shore circa 1930s near Surf Ballroom
Witkes Bathhouse
1936 Frozen Water Tower
Aerial I-35 & Hwy 18 Overpass
Auto Routes Map 1930’s
City Hall & Fire Station 1955
CL Regional Sanitary
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Clear Lake Water Tower
Downtown Water Tower
Electric and Water Plants 1910
Elks Hotel and Trolley
Fire Museum
Fire station 2010
Frozen Stand Pipe 1936
Hwy 18 Relocation
Interuban
Lake Dredging Location
MC&CL Rail Depot 1950’s
Milwakee Rail Station 1950’s
Post Office 1965
ventura_clear_lake_map(1912)
Water Plant and Tower 1950
Water Tower & Water Plant @ 1960
Water Tower Downtown
Al & Louise Allen
Ashland, Christopher
Axelsen, Max M. 1
Buddy Holly Last Photo
Carrie Nation 1900’s
Clark Gable Carol Lombard
Classic Car
Clintons – July 4th
Easter Egg Bonnets
FM Rogers
Hill, Robert L.
Jensen, John W. ‘Joe’
Kimball, Floyd
Kimble, Homer
Klein, John Joseph
M W “Bud” Hughes
Monaghen, Raymond
Oakwood Grocery O’Brien
Outdoor Bathroom-1910
P M Park IOOF Convention
Palmeter- Maud & Laura
Surf Ballroom-1939-Orch-Don Lee
Surf Ballroom-1940-Orch-Lynn Kern
Telephone Switchboard Operators
2022 Art Sale Poster
4th of July Fireworks 1950
Burning the Greens
Carnival
Carnival From Ferris Wheel
Central School Fire 1990
Central School Fire 1990s
Christmas By the Lake Parade
City Park and Bandshell
CLASS- Auto Show 2024
Clintons – July 4th
Color the Wind Event
Color the Wind Event
Corn Exchange Storage
Earth-Day-1975
Easter Egg Hunt Central Gardens
Easter Egg Poster
Fireworks
Fireworks and Carnival
Fireworks on the 4th
Frozen Stand Pipe 1936
Ice Boat Racers 1900s
Ice Harvest-1935
Ice House after Fire 1909
Ice using Mules Sleds-1909
July 4 Parade at Carnival
July 4 Parade Car
July 4 Parade Miller Car
Load More
1908 Aerial Clear Lake
Aerial Witke, Blue Horizon, Surf
Arts Center 1990s
Arts Center Scuplture Park
Band Shell 1950s
Band Stand @ 1870
Barrel Drive In 1960s
Bike Trail
Bike Trail sign
Campgrounds Tent
Campgrounds Tents
Catholic Church 1971
Central Gardens
Central Gardens 2020
City Beach 1940’s
City Park and Autos 1920s
City Park Fence 1870s
City-Park 1910s
Iconic scene Water Tower, Lady of the Lake, lake walk
Clear Lake Waterfront
CLHS house
Congregation Church
Dairy Queen
Downtown was booming, the power and gas plants on the lake front were gone, the Ford and Chevy garages were busy.
Downtown Aerial circa 1930
The electric plant, 2 story stone City office and shops, White and Black line piers.
End of Main circa 1900
Fire Museum
Fish Hatchery 1930s
FM Rogers House
George Etzel House
Load More
Carl Fox House
Etzel Scrapbook-G Etzel
George Etzel
George Etzel House
John Etzel House
Lon Green
Mable Waller
Robert Silas Young