Category: Then & Now
Compare history with the present in fascinating “Then and Now” photo pairs. See how cities, landmarks, and people changed over time.
These visual contrasts show the beauty of transformation and the persistence of heritage.
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#15 A woman opens the door to her Mercedes on Sacramento Street while horses killed by falling rubble lie in the street.
This striking then-and-now style image on Sacramento Street places a modern city scene alongside a historical street-level view of disaster and debris. Tall downtown buildings and contemporary cars frame the perspective, while the black-and-white portion shows the same corridor filled with dust, shattered masonry, and a stunned crowd in the distance.
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#31 Horse carriages and cars park in front of Lafayette Park while a destroyed city looms in the background
This “Then & Now” historical photo captures a striking view from Lafayette Park, where horse-drawn carriages and early automobiles share the curb in front of ornate Victorian-era homes. The foreground feels calm and residential, with tree-lined streets and everyday activity, while the mix of transportation hints at a city in transition.
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#47 Columbia Square.
This “Then & Now” view of Columbia Square (#47) blends a modern streetscape with an older black-and-white scene, creating a striking before-and-after comparison in a single frame. Parked cars, a clean curb line, and broad-canopy street trees anchor the present-day photo, while the historical layer reveals a rougher roadway texture that contrasts sharply with today’s…
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#63 Lotta’s Fountain and Chronicle Building .
This “Then & Now” view of Lotta’s Fountain and the Chronicle Building pairs a dramatic historical street scene with a modern downtown intersection. The image blend highlights how one familiar corner has changed in architecture, traffic, and daily life while keeping a recognizable civic landmark at its center.
