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25 Before-And-After Photos Of Famous Cities That Are So Mind-Blowing They Feel Like Real-Life Time Travel
It’s amazing, and slightly unbelievable, that the cities we’ve become so used to living in didn’t actually look this way decades ago. There’s nothing quite like holding up an old photograph in the same place it was captured years earlier, hoping to spot something similar, but seeing an entirely new world. Interestingly enough, some cities simply built around their historic buildings, while others completely revamped, introducing shiny new skyscrapers and high-rise blocks. Either way, these transformations have been truly extraordinary. To celebrate them, we’ve compiled this list of 25 before-and-after photos of some of the world’s most famous cities, proving just how much they’ve changed over time.
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#1
Chicago 1937 vs. 2015
The Majestic Opossum 1 week ago
I love that some of these beautiful old buildings and gorgeous architecture still stands though.
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#2
Ho Chi Minh 1930s vs. 2016
#3
Singapore 1969 vs. 2015
Binky Melnik 1 week ago
Are those boats on top of the buildings on the left?! And that’s some kinda stadium on the water? Don’t they kick or throw balls into the water now and then?
#4
Athens 1862 vs. 2015
#5
London 1920 vs. 2014
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
Uh... that river... looks a lot nastier in the 2014 photo. Not exactly a "glow-up", as the article's title calls this list XD
#7
Kyiv 1920 vs. 2021
#8
Berlin 1983 vs. 2021
The Majestic Opossum 1 week ago (edited)
To be more specific: EAST Berlin, before the wall fell, during the height of communist rule. Not really a fair contrast without context.
#9
Istanbul 1912 vs. 2013
#10
Shanghai 1934 vs. 2015
#11
Las Vegas 1920 vs. 2010
#12
Tokyo 1945 vs. 2014
Measuring at over 2700 feet, you can probably guess that the Burj Khalifa in Dubai tops the list of the world’s tallest buildings. At this point, you might be thinking how a structure so massive is still standing. Well, to keep the skyscraper stable and upright, engineers relied on a type of structural system known as a buttressed core.
#14
New York 1920 vs. 2021
David 1 week ago
also different parts of NYC, the top is from where the old Warf's were near Wall St, the bottom is of Midtown as seen from NJ. A lot of those old buildings still exist, like the old 14 Wall Street Building, Woolworth Building, etc. though sadly in the 60s, a lot of the old ones were torn down, but you still can see some of them
#15
Buenos Aires 1986 vs. 2018
#16
San Francisco 1906 vs. 2021
Joanne Mendonza-Earle 1 week ago
The top photo was taken just after the 1906 quake/fire to show the damage. The camera was on balloons and operated remotely,
#17
Seoul 1905 vs. 2016
#18
Rio De Janeiro 1889 vs. 2011
#19
Cairo 1904 vs 2015
Binky Melnik 1 week ago
Cairo only have three tall buildings? I spose we should appreciate it while we can, before it looks like Seoul.
#20
Melbourne 1870 vs. 2010
Patrick van den Houten 1 week ago
before is much nicer... the highrise is cold and unpersonal. no warmth
#21
Los Angeles 1910 vs. 2019
#22
Dubai 1966 vs. 2021
#23
Abu Dhabi 1980 vs. 2019
#24
Shenzhen 1964 vs. 2015
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What do you think ?
CJandMuse 1 week ago
Would have been nice if these pictures were of the same angle. Many of these had the before close-up of a street/buildings and the after a random shot of the enitre town or a completely different angle/view of the place. Hard to tell a "glow up" if you're not looking at the same thing
General Anaesthesia 1 week ago
That and black-and-white before vs. colour after photos, especially the aerial views. Highrise buildings do not always a glow-up make. Sometimes quite the opposite.
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Pernille 1 week ago
I don't like skyscrapers so to me most of these were a glow down, but I'm well aware that all cities can't grow out and have to grow up, I just can't stand all that glass and concrete.
Lousha 1 week ago
Agreed. Changed? Sure. Accommodates more people? Yeah. Has modern infrastructure? I guess. Glow up? Basically none of these pics show a glow up.
Load More Replies... CJandMuse 1 week ago
Would have been nice if these pictures were of the same angle. Many of these had the before close-up of a street/buildings and the after a random shot of the enitre town or a completely different angle/view of the place. Hard to tell a "glow up" if you're not looking at the same thing
General Anaesthesia 1 week ago
That and black-and-white before vs. colour after photos, especially the aerial views. Highrise buildings do not always a glow-up make. Sometimes quite the opposite.
Load More Replies... Pernille 1 week ago
I don't like skyscrapers so to me most of these were a glow down, but I'm well aware that all cities can't grow out and have to grow up, I just can't stand all that glass and concrete.
Lousha 1 week ago
Agreed. Changed? Sure. Accommodates more people? Yeah. Has modern infrastructure? I guess. Glow up? Basically none of these pics show a glow up.
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