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April 1940. "Business section of Dubuque, Iowa. The rich live in houses on the cliffs seen in background." View full size. 35mm negative by John Vachon.
I felt like doing a little investigative work tonight. I was born in Dubuque and raised not far from there in Wisconsin. Not that anybody probably cares, but this is looking west-southwest down Seventh Street, probably from Main. Nothing in the foreground seems to still exist, but the house at the end of the street, as well as the house on the bluff, still remain. Take a look at current-day Dubuque on Google Maps. This is one block closer to the houses at the end of the street.
...you really had me puzzled. I was going to call a technical foul thinking this couldn't really be photo of a mid-20th century midwest American business district. There didn't seem to be a Coca-Cola sign anywhere in sight! But if you go to the full size view and look carefully it is in fact there.
I won't spoil it for you; you'll have to find it yourself. Think of it as a soft drink version of "Where's Waldo?".
Dubuque was one of the first settlements in Iowa. This picture is looking west. Downtown is along the river bank. Most of the town today is: "Up on the hill". Great river town.
http://world.nycsubway.org/perl/show?54933
Looking east....today.
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