Vintage Photos

18 Throwback Photos Of Cities Before They Were Famous

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A collage of four images shows a city by a river, a black-and-white aerial view of an airfield, a modern city skyline with tall skyscrapers, and a dense urban area seen from above.

Cities that now feel larger than life often began as small, quiet places with little hint of what they would become. Long before the skyscrapers, traffic, and flashing lights, many were trading posts, fishing villages, or remote settlements shaped by chance, ambition, and time. The contrast between their early years and their modern identities can be astonishing.

These rare photos capture New York with farmland, Los Angeles before its urban sprawl, and Shanghai when parts of its landscape still looked almost untouched. Let’s take a look at 18 cities before they became famous.

1. Los Angeles

Cities. Top: Black-and-white photo of a mostly empty, hilly landscape with a few small buildings. Bottom: Modern color photo of downtown Los Angeles with skyscrapers and mountains in the background.
chazwazzle/via reddit.com

2. Tacoma, Washington, 1947 vs. now

Two aerial photos of the same area: the top is an old black-and-white image showing mostly empty land with a few roads, while the bottom is a modern color photo of a dense residential neighborhood with many houses.
pugetsoundogre/via reddit.com

3. Tokyo, Japan, 1945 vs. now

A split image shows Tokyo in 1945, mostly destroyed and barren, contrasted with the present day, filled with densely packed buildings and skyscrapers. Labels read "1945" on the top photo and "Now" on the bottom.
drain_pipe4/via reddit.com

4. Manhattan in 1931 and in 2018

Aerial comparison of Manhattan in 1931 (top, less dense skyline) and 2018 (bottom, with many tall skyscrapers and more greenery in Central Park).
poppintoaster/via reddit.com

5. Jersey City, then and now

Split image: Top shows a gloomy, industrial street with a brick building, smokestacks, and a yellow taxi. Bottom shows the same area years later, now bright with modern buildings, a bike lane, and green trees.
unoriginal_username9/via reddit.com

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6. Shanghai just 30 years ago vs. today

A split image shows Shanghai’s skyline: the top half is an old photo with low-rise buildings and open riverbanks; the bottom half is modern, featuring tall skyscrapers and brightly lit city lights along the river.
anonymous_redditor91/via reddit.com

7. Torrance, CA, 1924 vs. 2024

A split-image shows the same location at two different times: on the left, a black-and-white photo of open land with oil derricks; on the right, a modern aerial view of a dense residential neighborhood.
vanillayote/via reddit.com

8. Makati City, Philippines, 1950s vs. 2020

A black-and-white aerial photo of a sparse airfield above a modern, vibrant aerial view of a dense city filled with skyscrapers, roads, and green areas.
wubbalubba15/via reddit.com

9. Huntsville, AL, 1955 and 2018

Split-screen image comparing the same area across decades: the top shows a rural landscape with open fields and sparse buildings, while the bottom shows a developed area with roads, houses, and businesses.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

10. Seoul, South Korea, 1900 vs. today

Two side-by-side photos of the same city: the top, labeled "1900," shows a small, traditional town with mountains behind; the bottom, labeled "Now," shows a modern, brightly lit cityscape with many tall buildings.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

11. Hong Kong in 1964 and Hong Kong today

Two images of the same city: the top shows a mostly undeveloped landscape with a few buildings, while the bottom shows the same area densely packed with tall apartment buildings.
-_redan_-/via reddit.com

12. The Griffith Park Observatory with the LA city skyline, 1930s, and now

Two photos of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles: the top is an old black-and-white image showing sparse surroundings, while the bottom is a recent color image with the city skyline densely built behind it.
achernar666/via reddit.com

13. Elm Street in Dallas in the ’30s vs today

Two photos of the same city street decades apart: the top is a black-and-white, bustling historic scene with vintage cars and signs, while the bottom is a modern view with tall buildings and contemporary vehicles.
gillyflowers/via reddit.com

14. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, 1930 and now

Top: A vintage photo of a seaplane flying over Rio de Janeiro in 1930, with Christ the Redeemer under construction. Bottom: A modern view of Rio with the completed Christ the Redeemer statue and cityscape.
thehimalayanviews/via reddit.com

15. St. Paul, Minnesota, 1905 vs. 2024

Split image showing a historic sepia-toned cityscape with church steeples and trees on top, and a modern color photo of the same area below, now filled with tall buildings and urban infrastructure.
ganesha811/via reddit.com

16. Singapore in 200 vs. today

Two images show Singapore’s Marina Bay area: the top, labeled “2000,” is in black and white with fewer buildings; the bottom, labeled “Now,” is in color, showing many modern skyscrapers and city lights.
bs-bumaye/via reddit.com

17. Bogotá, Colombia, 1912 and 2017

Two photos of the same street in Bogotá: the top is a black-and-white historical image with old buildings and few people; the bottom is modern, crowded with pedestrians, tall buildings, and storefronts.
davidmt1995/via reddit.com

18. The walls of Nanjing

Side-by-side photos show the same section of a city wall in 1945 and 2023; the 1945 side is barren and damaged, while the 2023 side is restored, bustling with visitors and city buildings in the background.
usrdeleted/via reddit.com

Want to see more photos of places then and now?

Check out 50 Photos of America Then and Now, or take a look at 27 Photos of Los Angeles Then and Now. Finally, if you want to see New York City then and now, check out 20 Photos of New York City Then and Now.

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Meet the Writer


Patrick Nichols

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.



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