Old photos of Chicago
13 photographs of Chicago, from 1900 to 2024 — each pinned to the exact place it was taken.
Have an old photo of Chicago?
A family album, a postcard, a print from the attic. Pin it to the map and it becomes part of the record.
Add your photo
What the photos show
The 13 photographs of Chicago on PlaceWas span 4 decades, from 1900 to 2024. 4 of them were taken before 1980; the other 9 are recent views of the same streets and landmarks.4 spots were photographed more than once, so you can compare the same street, square or building across the years.12 of the photos carry a written caption explaining what is in the frame. Every picture is pinned to the place it was taken, so the map below shows where the photographers stood.
Places in Chicago through time
Spots photographed more than once — compare the same place across the years.
Stories from Chicago
What contributors wrote about these photographs.
1900s · 1 photo
1960s · 3 photos
2010s · 3 photos
2020s · 6 photos
