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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#11 California St below Powell St and the Fairmont Hotel.
This “Then & Now” view looks down California Street below Powell Street, with the Fairmont Hotel rising on the hill in the background. A classic San Francisco cable car rolls along the tracks, framed by the wide sidewalk, curbside parked cars, and the steep grade that makes this corridor instantly recognizable.
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#27 South Park from 3rd St.
This “Then & Now” historical photo looks down South Park from 3rd St., blending an earlier streetscape with the modern scene for an at-a-glance view of neighborhood change. The left side shows a partially standing masonry structure and a street edge crowded with large painted advertisements and posters, capturing the gritty textures of an urban…
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#43 9th and Brannan.
This “Then & Now” image at 9th and Brannan blends a historical street photograph into the present-day intersection, creating a striking view of how an urban corner evolves over time. The black-and-white scene aligns with today’s streetscape, letting you compare storefronts, sidewalks, and the flow of daily life in a single frame.
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#59 Fire has entered the Call Building.
This “Then & Now” photo blend captures a dramatic moment when fire has entered the Call Building, overlaying a historic disaster scene onto a present-day city street. Thick smoke rises behind damaged facades, while the modern sidewalk, traffic lanes, and everyday pedestrians continue through the frame, emphasizing the stark contrast between catastrophe and normal urban…
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#75 Oakland’s First Baptist Church
This “Then & Now” image pairs a historical photograph with a modern street view of Oakland’s First Baptist Church, creating a striking window into the city’s architectural past. The stone church dominates the frame with its steep roofline, arched entry, and tall tower, set against the everyday rhythms of an urban intersection.
