M.A. Jackson started a little detective work after she discovered some boxes in the basement of the Mt. Lebanon library, that contained old photographs of Washington Road.

The black-and-white pictures show buildings and stores along the municipality's main drag. Some of those pictured are still there -- the municipal building, for example. But others, such as the Clearview Garage, are gone.

Neither the boxes nor the photographs were labeled with a date, so Ms. Jackson studied the pictures for clues to when the photographs had been taken. She noticed the marquee sign on the Denis Theatre was advertising "Goldfinger."

That movie, an iconic James Bond flick, was released in 1964. Ms. Jackson discovered that in the same year a Mt. Lebanon Municipal Central Core Study was commissioned and that, she believes, is why so many pictures were taken of the street.

The mystery has now been turned into an exhibit. The Historical Society of Mount Lebanon's building on Lebanon Avenue now displays the old photographs beside current photographs of the street's buildings.

"The concept [is] that things change over time," said society member Lori Humphreys,

To drive that point home, quotes about change are posted on the walls. In display cases, items from Mt. Lebanon's past, -- such as an old ticket stub box from the Denis Theater and an early-model toaster-- point to more insights into the past.

For a more physical walk down memory lane, the Historical Society is bringing visitors down Washington Road, a main street in Mt. Lebanon that was built in 1797 as part of a state road connecting Pittsburgh to Washington, Pa.

Second graders in the Mt. Lebanon school district have taken field trips on the road for several years, but now everyone has the chance to learn about the art deco design of the municipal building and why the Anne Gregory for the Bride storefront looks as if it were supposed to be a movie theater.

Mt. Lebanon's main street has changed a lot since the 1960s, Ms. Humphreys said, but with the municipality's concerted effort to maintain the road, she said it has been a change for the better.

The second Washington Road walking tour will take place at 10 a.m. Oct. 24 beginning at the Mt. Lebanon History Center at 200 Lebanon Avenue. Tours are $2 for members and $2.50 for nonmembers.

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