Broad Street Circa 1919: A Photographic Exhibition

Open March 16 – May 30, 2026

The Library's current free exhibition "Broad Street Circa 1919" showcases historic photographs of Broad Street, taken about 1919 by George Leslie Hall, a local photographer with a studio located at 211 East Broad Street. Hall’s panoramas provide an authentic, ground-level street view that capture the details and character of one of Richmond’s most iconic streets. The history of some of the buildings featured is explored in more detail through architectural drawings, advertisements, and other historical documents.

The year 1919 marked a period of transition and growth for Richmond and the nation. Emerging from the shadows of World War I and the 1918 influenza pandemic, the city was experiencing social shifts, economic development, and an evolving urban landscape. Broad Street stood as a vibrant artery of commerce and culture, with its architecture reflecting both the ambitions and challenges of the era.

G. L. Hall

Born in Danville, Virginia, George Leslie Hall (1877–1961) began his career as a bookkeeper before founding the G. L. Hall Optical Company in Norfolk in 1901. With a sharp entrepreneurial vision, Hall expanded to Richmond in 1910, opening a flagship store at 211 East Broad Street, followed by other locations in Roanoke and Lynchburg. His company touted itself in advertisements as the "Largest Retail Opticians in the South."

In 1912, the G. L. Hall Optical Company introduced a full line of Eastman Kodak products, along with a professional developing and printing laboratory. Amateur photographers from Virginia to Florida appreciated the high quality of the laboratory's work. Dedicated to fostering a photographic culture, Hall was among the sponsors of the 1913 Kodak Exhibition at Richmond’s Jefferson Hotel auditorium. This weeklong event featured hundreds of amateur photographs, free movie screenings, and daily lectures by Kodak experts, attracting over a thousand visitors on its opening day. Hall also created a popular series of real photo postcards showing Richmond’s historic landmarks, helping visitors enjoy and remember the city’s sights.

An avid amateur photographer himself, Hall earned local acclaim in Hampton Roads for his maritime panoramic photographs, capturing naval vessels with exceptional clarity and minimal distortion – a challenge given the constraints of early panoramic cameras. While the exact reasons for the G. L. Hall Optical Company’s series of Broad Street photographs remain unclear, it is believed they were commissioned to document the street for real estate purposes. The photographs captured the local architecture while also showcasing Hall’s talent as a photographer.