Then and now: incredible photos of cities past and present

Mighty metropolises, then and now

London, England, UK

In the 21st century, Canary Wharf looks completely different. Long gone are the factory chimneys, replaced by ultra-modern skyscrapers, tower blocks and cranes building yet more high-rises. While the Old Royal Naval College and Queen’s House remain as they were, the old docks have been reimagined as one of London’s financial centers and a significant business district. The development here is so rapid that 76 new skyscrapers were finished in central London in 2019 alone.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Once the focal point of Las Vegas, Fremont Street is pictured here in 1953. Back then, Golden Nugget (one of the oldest casinos still open in the city) and its huge sign were a dazzling symbol of Sin City. The area, also home to The Hotel Apache, El Cortez and The Mint, became known as the Glitter Gulch, thanks to all the tall neon signs looming over the narrow street. However, soon after, a development boom kickstarted the rise of the Las Vegas Strip, and today Fremont Street looks a lot different…

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Gone is the Golden Nugget’s towering sign (though the casino is still open) and the tightly packed hotels from 1953. The street’s appearance changed completely in 1995 when the new and improved Fremont Street Experience – a pedestrian mall with attractions, casinos and concert stages – was unveiled. Occupying five blocks, including the Glitter Gulch, the street was closed to traffic and covered with a massive light canopy in a bid to revive Downtown. One of the few things that’s survived to this day is Vegas Vic: a neon sign portraying a cowboy. Take a look back at the history of Las Vegas here.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Today, Malaysia’s capital casts a vastly different figure. After gaining independence from the British first, and then the Japanese, Malaysia’s growth was quick, especially starting from the early 1990s. Soon famous additions like the Petronas Towers and Kuala Lumpur Tower (both seen in the background here) defined the city’s skyline. The Government Offices have since been renamed as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, and the structure currently houses the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Malaysia.

San Francisco, California, USA

Some 70 years later, San Francisco’s growth is obvious. While some landmarks, like the tree-lined Market Street and San Francisco City Hall can still be made out, others, like the Oakland Bay Bridge, are almost completely obstructed by the new developments in the Financial District, The East Cut and Rincon Hill. Much of the city’s growth has been fueled by the dot-com boom in the 1990s, and the social media boom since the mid-2000s, driving gentrification and a second wave of high-rise developments. Love this? Here are incredible images of the world’s tourist attractions under construction.

Shanghai, China

Berlin, Germany

Consecrated in the 15th century, the Berlin Cathedral, pictured here circa 1890, has had multiple iterations. A significant Berlin landmark both then and now, it was badly damaged in the Second World War and its reconstruction didn’t start until 1975. Around the time when this photo was taken, Berlin had become the capital of the newly founded German Empire, which inspired rapid growth and expansion in the city. This, combined with the damage of two World Wars, means it’s unsurprising that the city’s face has changed so dramatically…

Berlin, Germany

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Florence, Italy

A city with a long and illustrious history, Florence needs no introductions. Its famous Ponte Vecchio is captured here in 1893, just 22 years after Rome replaced the city as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. During the Second World War the city was under a year-long German occupation and as the British troops closed in, the Germans had plans to destroy all of the bridges along the Arno river in 1944, including Ponte Vecchio. Thankfully, a consul managed to convince a German general to spare the bridge due to its historic value.

Florence, Italy

Cairo, Egypt

Sydney, Australia

Australia’s most populous city, Sydney has a tumultuous history, marred by countless conflicts, leading up to the 19th century when the situation stabilized and the city established itself as a major cultural and financial center in Australia. Although the Great Depression hit the country hard, the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened in May 1932. After the war, the city boomed and new industries grew, inspiring widespread development. But, captured here in 1955, Sydney Harbour is still missing a key landmark that was opened in 1973…

Sydney, Australia

This more recent image reveals the view we’re so used to seeing, and includes the iconic Sydney Opera House. But it’s not just the addition of the Opera House that’s different. The city itself has grown in size and Sydney’s Central Business District is now defined by skyscrapers and high-rises. There have also been changes on the other side of the harbor, where Luna Park Sydney, an amusement and entertainment park, has sprung up. Now take a look at what the world’s tourist attractions could have looked like.

New York City, New York, USA

Very few locations in New York City have been through such drastic changes as Times Square. Grown out of a tiny hamlet known for carriage-making, the area developed into the center of New York’s horse carriage industry in the late 1800s. It was named Longacre Square after Long Acre in London, and it was here that William Henry Vanderbilt ran the American Horse Exchange. As plans to build a subway station here emerged, the area was renamed Times Square. Here, it’s pictured around 1900, facing south to Broadway on the left and 7th Avenue on the right.

New York City, New York, USA

Since the Great Depression and both World Wars, Times Square has grown dramatically, and has become a hub for theaters, dance halls and upscale hotels, as well as the center of New York’s New Year celebrations. It’s also a major tourist attraction, and is where Good Morning America is broadcast live from ABC’s Time’s Square Studios. Now take a look at America’s most historic attractions in their heyday.

Paris, France

A much more recent photo reveals that the leafy avenues and typically Parisian buildings with French windows are still very much in place. In fact, unlike many other places in Paris, this area seems to have changed very little. One small change is the star shape adorning the roundabout encircling the Arc de Triomphe. A 12-point star pointing towards each of the 12 avenues that form the junction, it’s a nod to the Place de Charles de Gaulle’s previous name: Place de l’Étoile, with étoile meaning star.

Barcelona, Spain

The difference 80 years of construction can achieve is quite staggering. Sagrada Familia today looks as if it’s an entirely different building. In 2015 it was announced that the construction is 70% complete and most of the church’s structure is set to be complete by 2026, the centennial of Gaudí’s death. One element that is still to be added is the immense central Christ steeple. It’s estimated that the basilica will finally be finished by 2032. Now check out some of the world’s most amazing unfinished landmarks.

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