45 Photos That Show How America Has Changed Over Time

All Nostalgia January 24, 2025

It’s hard to ignore how much everything is changing all around us all of the time. We recently published the article Photos Showing How Places Have Changed Over Time, and people really seemed to enjoy that. That led me to want to try a version of that story that focuses on places only within the United States.

Some of these comparison photos are satisfyingly similar to each other, while others can be depressingly (or thankfully) different. But overall, it’s a document that explores how our country has changed over time, for better and for worse.

Let us know if you enjoyed this or have any suggestions for future comparisons.

1. Los Angeles

A split image showing Los Angeles: the top half is a historical black-and-white photo of empty hills with a few buildings, and the bottom half is a modern color photo of a densely built urban skyline with skyscrapers.

Before: 1880s

After: 2001

2. Detroit

Two aerial images of Detroit are shown. The top is from 1951, depicting a densely built cityscape. The bottom is from 2002, highlighting sparser areas with more green space and visible streets. Both images include the waterfront.

Before: 1951

After: 2002

3. The Flatiron Building, New York City

Side-by-side images of the Flatiron Building in New York City. The left image is in black and white, showing early 20th-century cars and people. The right image is in color, depicting modern-day traffic and surroundings with taxis.

Before: 1917

After: 2012

4. Racetrack in Charlotte, NC

Top image: A crowded racetrack filled with spectators watching cars race. Bottom image: The same racetrack, now abandoned and overgrown with weeds and vegetation, with empty stands and a lone blossoming tree.

Before: Circa late 1970s

After: 2020

5. Ames, Iowa

Split-image: Top shows an old sepia photo of people outside a farmhouse with a windmill and horse carriage. Bottom shows the same farmhouse in modern day, painted blue, with lush trees and a green lawn.

Before: 1900

After: 2000

6. Woodstock Festival site

A split image shows a vast crowd at a historical music festival in the upper half, contrasted with a modern-day couple posing on a green, empty field in the lower half, suggesting the same location at different times.

Before: 1969

After: 2020

7. Fresh Prince basketball court

A hand holds a photo of people playing basketball, perfectly aligning with an outdoor court scene in the background. The old photo shows players in action, while the court behind it is mostly empty, except for a person walking.

Before: 1990

After: 2022

8. Figueroa St/Arroyo Seco Pkwy at College St. in Los Angeles before it was converted to the 110 freeway in 1941.

A split image compares a bridge over a road. The top is a black and white photo showing vintage cars and a simple bridge. The bottom is a modern, color image with traffic and a bridge with graffiti. A sign indicates Stadium Way and Hill Street.

Before: 1939

After: 2021

9. Detroit

Two side-by-side images show the same street. In July 2009, well-maintained houses with cars and people are visible. By May 2019, the homes appear abandoned and deteriorated, with overgrown yards and missing windows.

Before: 2009

After: 2019

10. Dallas

Top image: An aerial view of a city with scattered buildings and a large sports arena. Bottom image: The same city, now with numerous modern skyscrapers, denser development, and the sports arena still visible. A highway runs through both images.

Before: 2001

After: 2021

11. Hollywood High School

Two images of the same white building with palm trees. The top image shows vintage cars and people in retro attire, suggesting an older era. The bottom image features modern cars and a contemporary setting with similar architecture.

Before: 1941

After: 2021

12. University of Montana

Top image shows Native American people standing in front of teepees in a valley. Bottom image shows the same location in present day with trees, a statue, and a large brick building in front of a hillside.

Before: Circa 1880s

After: 2020

13. Manhattan Bridge, NYC

Top: Vintage black and white photo showing the incomplete construction of the Manhattan Bridge with surrounding buildings. Bottom: Modern-day color photo of the completed bridge arching over a street lined with parked cars and brick buildings.

Before: 1908

After: 2021

14. Amy Winehouse, NYC

A person holds a photo of a woman sitting on the ground near a brick and iron fence. The woman has dark hair, a white tank top, and black jeans. The shadow of the person holding the photo is visible on the sidewalk.

Before: 2007

After: 2021

15. Main and Delaware St, Kansas City, MO

A split image comparing Market Street in 1906 and 2015. The 1906 photo shows bustling street life with horse-drawn carriages and vintage buildings. The 2015 photo features a quiet road, sparse traffic, and modern infrastructure.

Before: 1906

After: 2015

16. Grand Central Station, NYC

Two side-by-side images of the same grand hallway. The top is a black-and-white photo with chandeliers and a clock, while the bottom is a color version with a person walking. The architecture is grand with arches and stone walls.

Before: 1912

After: 2021

17. Greenpoint, Brooklyn

A split image showing a historical and a modern view of the same urban intersection. The top half is a black and white photo with vintage cars and buildings. The bottom half is a color photo with contemporary vehicles and updated storefronts.

Before: 1916

After: 2021

18. Vallejo St., San Francisco

A split image showing cars on a steep, narrow street lined with houses. On the left, a vintage car with people beside it. On the right, a modern car parked in front of similar-style houses.

Before: 1920

After: 2020

19. Restored home in Brush Park, Detroit

A split image showing the same historic brick house in two states: the top half depicts it as abandoned and deteriorating, while the bottom half shows it restored, with new development nearby.

Before: 1993

After: 2021

20. Industrial St., Los Angeles

Left image: Yellow train engine on a curved, deserted brick alleyway. Right image: Outdoor evening gathering with people seated around tables under string lights, surrounded by ivy-covered walls.

Before: 1960s

After: 2019

21. Yosemite National Park

A split image compares Yosemite National Park in 1903 and 2018. The left shows a man in front of a waterfall in 1903, in black and white. The right shows the same waterfall in 2018, in color, with lush greenery and a clear sky.

Before: 1903

After: 2018

22. The Pines, Fallsburg, NY

A diptych showing a pool area. Top: Vintage scene with people swimming and sunbathing around a vibrant pool with a curved bridge. Bottom: The same location, now abandoned, overgrown with vegetation and the pool empty.

Before: 1950s

After: 2010s

23. Old home in Omaha, Nebraska

Side-by-side images of a Victorian house. Left: Sepia-toned photo from 1890 shows the original structure with ornate details. Right: 2020 photo shows the same house, restored with blue and red colors, maintaining its historic features.

Before: 1890

After: 2020

24. Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles

A split image showing the Hollywood sign transformation: the top half in the 1920s with "Hollywoodland" on a mountain, and the bottom half in modern times with the revised "Hollywood" sign, surrounded by more developed scenery.

Before: 1920s

After: 2010s

25. Tunnel Rock at Sequoia National Park, California

Top: A vintage car parked near a large boulder arching over a road, surrounded by trees and hills. Bottom: The same road and boulder in a more recent setting, with additional rocks on the side and greenery.

Before: 1952

After: 2020

26. Grand Tetons, Wyoming

Two images show the same mountain range. The top black-and-white photo from 1878 depicts snow-capped peaks and a lake. The bottom color photo shows the same scene with clearer, vibrant details. Both feature coniferous forests in the foreground.

Before: 1878

After: 2022

27. Halcyon Hall at Bennett College, Millbrook, New York

Top: A large, well-maintained mansion on a grassy lawn in 1965. Bottom: The same mansion in 2012, appearing dilapidated with overgrown vegetation and visible decay, surrounded by a similar grassy lawn.

Before: 1965

After: 2012

28. Hoover Dam

Two images show the Hoover Dam from similar angles at different times. The top image depicts higher water levels surrounding the intake towers, while the bottom image shows significantly lower water levels, revealing more of the towers' structures.

Before: 1983

After: 2022

29. Ramones, NYC

A person holds a vintage black-and-white photo of a band in front of a New York street scene. Behind, a modern-day street corner with a Patagonia store, trees, and urban buildings is visible. The signs read "Bowery" and "Bleecker St.

Before: 1975

After: 2021

30. Statue of Liberty, NYC

The image shows a split view of the Statue of Liberty, with a historical black-and-white photo on the left, and a modern color photo taken during dusk on the right, highlighting the statue illuminated against a darkening sky.

Before: 1937

After: 2019

31. The Bronx

Side-by-side comparison of the same brick rowhouse from the 1940s and in 2022. The 1940s image shows retro clothing, while the 2022 image includes modern cars and updated exterior details.

Before: 1940s

After: 2022

32. Abraham Lincoln’s home, Springfield, Illinois

Top: A sepia-toned historic photo of a two-story wooden house with shutters, surrounded by a fence and trees. Bottom: The same house in a modern color photo with green shutters and decorative bunting on the porch, under a clear blue sky.

Before: 1861

After: 2021

33. Seattle Viaduct

Split image: Left side shows a foggy cityscape with a highway, cars, and a barely visible Ferris wheel in the background. Right side features a sunny scene with a vibrant waterfront, crowds, and a clear view of the Ferris wheel.

Before: 2010s

After: 2023

34. Corner of 49th and 3rd Ave, NYC

Split image of the same building. Top: Vintage photo of Manny Wolf's Chop House with old cars in front. Bottom: Modern photo of the same building now housing Smith & Wollensky, featuring American flags and modern cars.

Before: 1940

After: 2021

35. Manhattan Ave at Norman Ave, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Split image of a street corner in the 1920s and the same location today. Left: Black and white, vintage cars, drugstore signage. Right: Modern color photo, cars, traffic lights, and a red building with a bakery awning. Signs read "Norman Ave.

Before: 1920s

After: 2021

36. Manhattan, NYC

Two aerial images of Manhattan. The top is from 1931, showing a dense grid with fewer skyscrapers. The bottom is from 2018, showing a significantly more developed skyline. Central Park is prominent in both images, surrounded by many buildings.

Before: 1931

After: 2018

37. Disneyland Main Street, Anaheim, California

Side-by-side images of the same building at a theme park in different eras. The left shows vintage clothing and signage for "Upjohn Co," while the right shows modern attire and "Streetside Shop" with patriotic bunting.

Before: 1963

After: 2021

38. Chicago

A split image showing an aerial view of a city skyline: the top is a historic black and white scene with old skyscrapers, and the bottom is a modern color view with the same buildings, highlighting architectural changes over time.

Before: 1930s

After: 2021

39. Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia

On the left, a steam locomotive travels on a wooden railroad through a lush landscape. On the right, a modern MARC train moves along similar tracks, accompanied by a rocky cliff backdrop.

Before: 1947

After: 2021

40. Michigan Central Railroad Depot, Detroit

Left side: Vintage black-and-white photo of people sitting on benches in a spacious room with tiled walls. Right side: Color photo of the same room, now abandoned, with graffiti on the walls and debris on the floor.

Before: 1965

After: 2014

41. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Side-by-side images of Mount Rushmore: on the left, the bare mountain from 1922; on the right, the completed sculpture in 2018 featuring the faces of four U.S. presidents.

Before: 1922

After: 2018

42. Empire State Building, NYC

Side-by-side images of the Empire State Building. The left is a historical black-and-white photo with small buildings in the foreground, while the right shows a modern color photo with skyscrapers surrounding it.

Before: 1941

After: 2018

43. The Fallen Monarch, Yosemite

Two images of a giant fallen tree in a forest. The top is a vintage photo with people standing on the log and horses. The bottom is a modern photo with people walking beside the log. Tall trees surround both scenes.

Before: 1899

After: 2021

44. Satiam Wagon Road, Oregon

A split image showing a historical scene with a wagon in the foreground traveling through a forested area towards a snow-capped mountain, juxtaposed with a modern scene of a dirt bike on a similar forest path with the same mountain in view.

Before: Unknown (possibly late 1800s)

After: 2022

45. House in Portland, Oregon

Left: A black-and-white photo of an older house with minimal landscaping and a dirt path. Right: A color photo of the same house, now with vibrant grown foliage and a metal roof, showing changes over time.

Before: 1919

After: 2021

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