Places and buildings have evolved a lot over the decades. What places looked like years ago are not how they appear today. This could be due to an increase in population, a rise in technology, or both. There are new buildings, bigger streets, and so much more being done to cities worldwide. This means that many major cities, monuments, and other popular sights have altered in appearance slightly or drastically.
Some cities are honestly unrecognizable in the past. Some now abandoned places were once popular hangout spots, some relics were once major advancements, now just normal structures. Back then, there was less hustle and bustle, things were quieter. It's cool to see how some of the world's most popular spots looked decades ago.
There are tons of photos online of cities, historical buildings, and other famous sights back in the past compared to now. Here is a collection of 25 side-by-side photos from life in the past showcasing these interesting differences in places then and now.
Boston after relocating its highway underground, 1980s and now
(Source: Reddit)
1885 vs 2025, Vina del Mar, Chile
(Source: "":)
Mexico City, 1960s and 2025
(Source: Reddit)
Ferret St. and Jena St., New Orleans, 1970s and 2025
(Source: Redd)
School house, Teaticket, MA
(Source: Reddit)
Nauset Light, Cape Cod, MA, 1964 and 2024
(Source: Redd)
Downtown Chicago, 1961 and 2025
(Source: Redd)
Battle of Grebbeberg, the Netherlands, 1940 and 2020s
(Source: Redd)
Construction is eternal, Winnipeg, 1947 and 2025
(Source: Redd)
Near Las Vegas, 1871 and 2025
(Source: Redd)
Milan, Italy, 1950 vs 2024
(Source: Redd)
Kyiv, 1890 and 2025
(Source: Redd)
Commonwealth avenue, Boston, 1910 and 2015
(Source: Redd)
McDonald's, 2005 and 2024
(Source: Redd)
The old Grafton County Courthouse, New Hampshire, 1860 and 2018
(Source: Redd)
Gestapo Headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark, 1944 and 2025
(Source: Redd)
1877 and 2019
(Source: Redd)
Crater Lake, 1982 and 2022
(Source: Redd)
Oxford, 1810 and 2022
(Source: Redd)
Lithuania, 1955 and 2021
(Source: Redd)
Chernobyl, 1984 and 2011
(Source: Redd)
The shambles in York, UK, 1800s and 2020s
(Source: Redd)
Prague, 1910 and 2020
(Source: Reddit)
Downtowner Motor Inn, Albuquerque, NM, 1964 and 2025
(Source: Reddit)
Early LA and 2001
(Source: Redd)