In the wake of plans for Public Square’s soon-to-be-changing face and a hefty donation from the Cleveland Foundation to fund the aforementioned project, we thought now would be a great time to take a look back on how Public Square has evolved throughout the 20th century.

Here are 20 photos showcasing the square as it’s appeared at various times in the 1900s. All photos courtesy of the Cleveland Memory Project.

This article appears in Jul 16-22, 2014.

Cortni Dietz is a senior at Ohio University and a Scene blogging intern. When taking a break from the rigorous pursuit of journalism, she enjoys eating, reading, hanging out with dogs of all shapes and sizes and drinking overpriced coffee.