Greater Houston Preservation Alliance and Houston Downtown Management District have opened windows to a time before big-box stores and shopping malls. The outdoor exhibit, "Window Shopping on Main Street, 1920-1930," uses historic photography from the Story Sloane Collection to give visitors a glimpse of downtown's heyday as a shopping destination.

Swimwear display, Foley Bros. Department Store, 1928. © Story Sloane's Gallery. Used by permission.

Photomurals fill a dozen store windows with life-size images of mannequins in flapper-era swim suits from Foley Bros., washing machines with wringers from Stowers Furniture and baseball heroes of the Roaring '20s from Bering Hardware & Sporting Goods. Accompanying text panels examine Main Street's retailing past and the architectural heritage the store owners left behind.

In addition to educating the public about the city's history, the display supports downtown revitalization efforts by improving the area's appearance and encouraging people to stroll Main Street. The photomurals are located in storefronts in three historic buildings: the former Bond Clothes (1940), 811-813 Main; the West Building (1912), 815 Main; and the former Sakowitz Department Store (1951), 1111 Main. The display will be in place for several months.

The highly detailed photographs of store windows were fulfillment pieces retailers sent to manufacturers to prove the merchants had carried out special promotions. The historic images are from the collection of GHPA member Story Sloane III. Sloane's father rescued thousands of photographic plates that were slated for destruction. Images made from the 80-year-old negatives are of such high quality, it is possible to read the price tags on some of the merchandise.

"Story Sloane has done an outstanding job preserving his father's legacy with these important historic documents," GHPA Executive Director Ramona Davis said. "He has been extremely generous in making his collection available to GHPA. This project would not have been possible without his enthusiasm and support."

David Bush, GHPA's director of programs and information, developed the concept, researched and wrote the text panels, and supervised installation. Houston Downtown Management District funded the project. On Site E-Discovery produced and installed the photomurals.

Getting there: The four exhibit sites are on Main Street between Prairie and Dallas avenues. Parking is available on side streets and in area lots and garages. All the exhibits are located between the Preston and Main Street Square MetroRail stations and are within easy walking distance of both stations.