Then vs Now: 50+ Photos Show How Cities and Landmarks Around the World Have Changed

Published

November 11, 2025

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A side-by-side comparison shows Kansas City, MO, in 1906 and 2015. The 1906 image has a bustling street with tram tracks, tall historic buildings, and pedestrians. The 2015 image depicts a modern, quieter street with a few trees, streetlights, and new buildings. — Via reddit.com

These before-and-after photos compare how cities, landmarks, and public spaces have changed over time. From quiet rural towns that grew into major hubs to iconic sites that evolved with modern architecture, each image highlights the story of progress and preservation. Together, these photo pairings show how the world continues to transform while still reflecting the roots that shaped them.

Kansas City before and after Urban Renewal

A comparison of Kansas City in two different time periods: the upper image shows a city view from pre-1940s with a tall, white skyscraper and densely packed buildings; the lower image shows the same location in 2022 with modern buildings and surrounding areas. — unroja

A trolley ascending Mount Tom in Holyoke, Massachusetts, around 1905-15, and the same scene in 2021.

Penn Station, New York City. 1910 – 2024

1959 vs 2023 Elbbrücke Bridge Germany.

Before: A historic bridge with ornate towers and arches. After: A modern bridge with sleek, arched steel girders over a busy road, showing significant architectural change.

City center of Nantes, France (1890 and 2013)

Split image of Nantes, France: Top half shows a vintage scene with the Erdre river, a bridge, and old buildings. Bottom half is a modern view with trams, contemporary architecture, and greenery lining the streets.

Caesars Las Vegas, Julius Executive Duplex Suite

Split image comparing hotel lobby designs from 1968 and 2023. Left side shows vibrant 1968 decor with pink carpet, golden mirrors, and retro furniture. Right side shows modern 2023 decor with neutral colors, contemporary furniture, and minimalist design. — IronSpaceRanger

A 1950s shop building was replaced by a new Beaux Arts building in NYC in 2010.

The image shows a "before" and "after" comparison of a building. The "before" image features a modern, two-story building with large windows. The "after" image displays a classical, ornate multi-story building with intricate details. — NewYorkvolunteer

Boston before and after ‘Big Dig’

The image shows a side-by-side comparison of an urban area. The top part depicts a busy elevated highway surrounded by buildings. The bottom part shows the same area transformed into a green park with trees, walkways, and an open, traffic-free space. — StrategyOdd7170

Seattle (WA, USA) before and after Viaduct removal.

A split image comparison of Seattle's waterfront. The top shows the Alaskan Way Viaduct in 2016 with cars and smoke in the distance. The bottom shows a vibrant waterfront park in 2024, with people walking and greenery visible. — CPetersky

1910 vs. Today in Los Angeles, CA

A split image showing the same location in different eras. The top is a historic photo of a street with oil derricks and a few people walking. The bottom is a modern photo of the same street, now lined with houses, cars, and greenery. — Parlax76

Bonn, West Germany 1945 vs Now

A split image shows the same location at different times. The top half is a black-and-white photo of a war-torn area with ruined buildings including a church steeple. The bottom half is a present-day vibrant street scene, with people walking near modern shops and the same church steeple in the background. — Maximum-Language-522

Booksellers along the Seine in Paris, 1900 – Present.

Top: A black and white photo of people browsing books along the Seine in Paris, 1900. Bottom: A modern color photo of people looking at booksellers' stalls beside the Seine, with Notre-Dame in the background, labeled "Paris, Today. — owbitoh

Lahaina, Hawaii, in a span of 6 months

Top image shows a calm seaside road with shops and trees on the right. Bottom image depicts the same road after a disaster, with charred cars and debris, and damaged trees along the shoreline. Dates indicate before and after the event. — Nailhead

Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, France

Two images of Mont Saint-Michel, France. The top black-and-white photo from 1908 shows fewer structures and a dirt path. The bottom 2016 color photo depicts a larger, restored island with a stone pathway and additional buildings. — Actual_Macaroon_3024

A view of the New York skyline from the same bench in 1957 and 2021

A side-by-side comparison shows a black-and-white photograph of a person sitting on a bench in front of the Manhattan skyline (left), and a modern color photograph of the same view with an empty bench (right). — mrl33602

Ostend, Belgium, 1899 and present-day

A split image showing a historical and a modern view of the same beachfront promenade. The top image features people in early 20th-century attire walking along an ornate building-lined promenade, while the bottom image shows a modernized area with contemporary buildings. — Opposite_Ad8878

1892-2024 Old town center in Chester, Massachusetts

A split image shows a historic church and road scene in rural New England. The top part is an old black-and-white photo of a church with a tree-lined path. The bottom part is a modern color photo, depicting the same church and road with leafless trees and houses. — andeo1996

1880 to 2018, VandenBoom Chair Factory, Quincy, Illinois

A side-by-side comparison shows the transformation of a building from 1880 to 2018. The 1880 image depicts an ornate, brick structure labeled "Chair & Furniture Manuf'g H.A. Vandenboom & Co," while the 2018 image shows a simplified, unadorned version of the same building. — basnectar

My grandma in the 1950s in Los Angeles vs her approximate location on Google Maps

A grayscale photo on the left shows a woman in a striped blouse standing in front of a cityscape, including a tall building. On the right, a modern color photo shows a freeway with signs pointing to San Pedro and Pasadena, with tall buildings in the background. Text reads "1953 E Arcadia St.

Chichen Itza 1892 and 2020

Two side-by-side images depict a pyramid: the first (top) shows the structure covered in dense vegetation, partially buried and obscured, while the second (bottom) reveals a restored and fully visible pyramid with clear, defined steps under a bright, cloudy sky. — Killadee

The Flatiron building, New York, 1917 and 2012

Side-by-side images of the Flatiron Building in New York City. Left: Black and white photo from the early 1900s with vintage cars and fewer skyscrapers. Right: Modern color photo with yellow taxis, updated street signs, and more developed surrounding buildings. — chriscambridge

1955 and 2021 Vilnius, Lithuania

This split-image shows two buses on the same street in different eras. The top half features a vintage bus with a cream and orange color scheme in an old setting. The bottom half shows a modern bus with similar colors in a contemporary neighborhood. — u/NeisviresKoldunas / Via Reddit.com

It’s nice to see that the bus company still uses the same colors.

Czech out Prague 1910 and 2020

A split image shows a street scene from Prague. The top half is a historical black-and-white photo with people walking on a curved street lined by old buildings. The bottom half is a contemporary color photo of the same street, with modern buildings and more people. — Stotallytob3r

Little has changed, but modern streets are full of parked cars.

Ancient Greece before and after excavation

Two images show a restored and unrestored ancient amphitheater. The top image portrays an overgrown, grass-covered site with trees and vegetation. The bottom image reveals the restored amphitheater with stone seating and two standing columns, highlighting archaeological work. — Just_Another_Gen-Zer

10 years in Detroit. 2009 and 2019

Two side-by-side images show the same street in different years. The top image, dated July 2009, depicts well-maintained houses and cars parked along the street. The bottom image, dated May 2019, shows a more deteriorated street with neglected houses and overgrown vegetation.

Twenty-year difference in Dallas, Texas. 2001 to 2021.

A split image showcasing an aerial view of a city's skyline at two different times. The top image shows sparse development with fewer, smaller buildings, while the bottom image reveals a more developed cityscape with numerous high-rise buildings and increased infrastructure. — dallasstars5

Arch of Constantine in Rome, 1943 (taken by my grandfather), and what it looks like today.

A side-by-side comparison of the Arch of Constantine in Rome, Italy. The top image from 1943 shows the arch with a few cars around and sparse surroundings. The bottom image from 2020 depicts the same arch bustling with tourists and lush greenery around. — PrivateTumbleweed

The main entrance to the city of York, England. 1865 to 2015

A composite image of the same street scene in York, England, taken in 1865 (top) and the present day (bottom). Both images feature historic buildings and a large stone gateway arch in the center. The older photo shows horse-drawn carriages, while the modern one has cars and traffic lights. — hasanah78

Mickelgate Bar is the main entrance to the city through which monarchs would enter. It was also a popular practice to hang the heads of traitors from the gatehouse.

Unfinished Manhattan Bridge in 1908 and 2021

A black-and-white photo above and a color photo below show different time periods of a street view towards the Manhattan Bridge in New York City. The top image shows the bridge under construction, while the bottom image shows the fully completed bridge with modern surroundings. — oldschoolcool

Now, if you visit this street, it’s always filled with people taking Instagram photos.

Street in Kaunas, Lithuania, then and now.

A black and white photo of an old gabled-roof brick building with leafless trees is shown in the top half. The bottom half shows the same building now enclosed within a modern shopping mall, surrounded by escalators and indoor lighting.

Singapore 2000 to 2020

Top image labeled "2000" shows a less developed cityscape with a few skyscrapers and boats on the water. Bottom image labeled "Now" depicts the same location with a highly developed, illuminated skyline including Marina Bay Sands, arts structures, and more skyscrapers. — BS0Bymaye

I know Singapore is a fast-developing nation, but that’s really fast.

Hong Kong’s Kowloon Peninsula. 1964 to 2016

Two side-by-side panoramic images show the transformation of Hong Kong’s skyline over several decades. The top image depicts a sparsely populated landscape with limited high-rise buildings, while the bottom image shows a dense urban area with numerous high-rise buildings. — Logan-rice88

Nice if you’re into apartments.

Main and Delaware St in Kansas City, MO. 1906 vs 2015

A split image showing the same street in two different years. The top shows a bustling 1906 street with horse-drawn carriages, streetcars, and pedestrians, alongside vintage buildings and Owl Cigars sign. The bottom 2015 scene depicts a quieter, modernized street with few buildings remaining. — RigatoniNoodles123

This one is particularly heartbreaking.

Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 1916 and 2021

A two-part image comparison of the same street: the top part shows an old black-and-white photo with vintage cars and storefronts; the bottom part displays a modern color photo of the same street with contemporary vehicles and updated shops. — oldphotosirl

It’s pretty incredible how many cars exist now. Not to mention the existence of streetcars/trams. That’s what you get when automobile companies lobby the government, though.

Hiroshima. 1945 and 2020

A comparative image showing Hiroshima in 1945 and 2020. The top image depicts Hiroshima in ruins just after the atomic bombing in 1945; the bottom image shows a rebuilt, modern city with numerous buildings, lush green spaces, and bridges spanning the river in 2020. — u/Adamstowellll / Via reddit.com

All the radiation from the bomb dissipated a long, long time ago. Living in Hiroshima and visiting as a tourist is totally safe. On the other hand, Fukushima is still highly contaminated nearly 10 years after the disaster and is practically a ghost town.

The Pines in Fallsburg, NY. 1950s to somewhat recently.

A two-part image showing a contrasting scene of the same location. The top part depicts a crowded, vibrant outdoor pool area from a past era, with people sunbathing and swimming. The bottom part shows the same location in a state of decay, with overgrown vegetation and a derelict pool. — PugetSoundOgre

There’s a lot of abandoned places in Catskill, NY. Tourism died out, and a bunch of resorts closed down.

Hollywood sign, Los Angeles

Two images display the iconic Hollywood sign on Mount Lee in Los Angeles. The top black-and-white photo from the 1920s shows the original "HOLLYWOODLAND" sign. The bottom modern color photo shows the updated "HOLLYWOOD" sign amidst urban sprawl and radio towers. — TogderNodger

The sign was originally an advertisement for a new subdivision called Hollywood Land. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce entered into an agreement with the landowners to maintain the sign and removed the Land portion in 1949. It eventually fell into disrepair, but was rebuilt in 1978 after Hugh Hefner hosted a fundraiser for the cost of rebuilding it. It is now an official Los Angeles cultural-historic monument.

Krakow, Poland. 1939 and 2010s

Two photos show the same street in different eras. The top image, in black and white, depicts an old tram and vintage cars with people walking. The bottom image, in color, features a modern tram and contemporary vehicles on the same street, now more developed. — Mackelowsky

I wish we had kept our streetcars here in America.

Abraham Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Illinois, in 1861 and 2021

Two images of the same two-story house: The top, an old sepia-toned photo showing a Victorian house with shutters and a picket fence. The bottom, a current photo showing a well-maintained yellow house with green shutters and decorated with patriotic bunting. — Le_Rat_Mort

I always thought Lincoln’s home was in Pennsylvania. I always hear about his Gettysburg address.

Manhattan 1931 to 2018

Two aerial images of Manhattan, New York City are shown side by side. The top image is labeled "1931" and shows a less developed cityscape with visible building growth and open spaces. The bottom image, labeled "2018," depicts a densely built and urbanized skyline. — u/Poppintoaster / Via reddit.com

That East River (on the left of the 1931 pic) was evidently a Raging Bull in tidal activity. The undertaking to “Calm it down” was, in fact, one of the greatest feats of engineering ever.

A former public bath in Wuppertal, Germany. Now, a brewery and beer hall. 1993 vs. 2019.

Chernobyl power plant control room in 1986 and 2021

Top: A person in a white suit and yellow boots stands in a control room filled with numerous monitors, buttons, and control panels on the walls and desks. Bottom: The same control room appears deserted and decayed, with broken equipment and debris scattered. — u/Scientiaetnatura065

I love that their protection gear had flared trousers. Apparently, they were flared intentionally, but not for style. You had to be able to put them on easily over the protective boots.

Stonehenge: 1877 and 2019

A side-by-side comparison of Stonehenge: the top image is an old black-and-white photograph showing a dilapidated, partially collapsed state, while the bottom image is a modern color photograph showing the iconic stone structure largely intact and bathed in sunlight. — ProjectFailure

It’s easy to forget that Stonehenge was restored.

The Curecanti Needle, Black Canyon, Colorado, 1880s vs 2024

A split image comparing an old photograph with a modern photo of a narrow canyon called "Currecanti Needle, Black Canyon of the Gunnison." The left shows a sepia-toned, historical image with railway tracks; the right shows a vibrant, modern view of a river and greenery.

It’s one of the only photos where 2024 looks better than the 1880s.

Robin Hood’s Bay, England

I am always impressed by how little some places have changed in more than 100 years.

Boston 1858 and 1980

Dresden: From Post-War Ruins in 1957 to a Rebuilt Cultural Hub Today.

130-year-old Victorian largely unchanged — Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Wroclaw, Poland, 1920 – 2024

Mexico City, Mexico.

Towers & Piazza Maggiore – Bologna, Italy – 1948 and Today

Tower of London: 25 years ago VS today

Two photos of the Tower of London and its surroundings. The top image shows a view with older, shorter buildings in the background, while the bottom image shows modern, taller skyscrapers. Both images have the historic Tower in the foreground with green trees. — Max_MM7

Australia’s Wonderland, Sydney. Now lost.

The image is split into two parts. The top shows a lively waterpark full of people swimming and enjoying the pool in 2003. The bottom shows the same waterpark in 2017, but it is abandoned, with dirty water, overgrown plants, and debris scattered around. — oldphotoirl

Central Park, New York: Fifth Avenue and 65th/66th Streets, 1904-2021

100 years apart on 56th street, on the south slope of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona.

A black-and-white image of a vintage car on a desert road contrasts with a modern color photo of a similar road now bordered by greenery and development. The top photo shows sparse desert, while the bottom one shows urban expansion and vegetation. — sarge-m

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Colby Droscher

With over 15 years in digital publishing, Colby Droscher is a veteran of the industry. In a past life he was the Editor-in-Chief of Literally Media’s Entertainment brands (Cracked.com, eBaumsWorld.com, Cheezburger.com). His specialities are online humor, digital culture, memes, videos games, tv & movies and the history of the internet.