“Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints”. We always see this in various tourist spots, when we are traveling.
Photographs can serve as a visual collection of memories. They have cultural and sentimental value.
In this collection of vintage and historical photos, you may be able to learn and compare the life and story of yesterday and tomorrow.
1. A German Sturmgeschütz in Rome, Italy – 1944 and the same location in 2020
The Sturmgeschütz assault gun was Germany’s most-produced fully tracked armored fighting vehicle during World War II. It’s amazing to see the lives of two different periods, almost a century apart. The woman on the right looks like she’s about to step straight into 1944.
2. Biograph Theater, Chicago: Today and 1934
The Biograph Theater on Lincoln Avenue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois was originally a movie theater but now presents live productions. The crowd was captured shortly after John Dillinger, a notorious gangster was shot in a nearby alley. It’s cool to see how the architect and other professionals involved kept the design.
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Mthirtyseven/Reddit
3. The Sphinx, today and 1889
The Great Sphinx of Giza is a giant 4,500-year-old limestone statue situated near the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. In 1889, Al Spalding led a group of professional baseball players on a world tour. Significantly a great work as there were many phases comprised in restoring such ancient history.
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Mthirtyseven/Reddit
4. Two knocked-out tanks of the Panzer Lehr Division on the main street of Lingevres, Normandy
Operation Overload was the codename for the Battle of Normandy in France. The village was liberated on June 14, 1944. You may not realize that this a composite photo of the past and present.
5. Nuremberg Party Grounds, today and 1930s
The Nazi Party Rallies, held annually from 1933 to 1938 at a specially designed site in Nuremberg, Germany were carefully planned propaganda events. Even though the structures are crucial reminders of a dark past, they have been repurposed and given a rebirth. The grounds have hosted the annual Norisring Speedweekend motorsport festival since 1947, and the Rock im Park rock music festival since 2004.
6. The city of Tübingen during World War II and now
Tübingen is one of Germany’s oldest cities, as well as one of its distinctive. This photo was created by an educator for the students in history class. A great presentation to showcase the stories behind it and its existent.
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Bendertheoffender22/Reddit
7. Packard Plant in Detroit, Michigan
The bridge has since collapsed. Packard Plant owner Fernando Palazuelo is working with his team to develop a master plan to historically restore the site. It’s a vision to bring back opportunity, jobs, and commerce.
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Mthirtyseven/Reddit
8. First Barricade of the la commune, March 1871, Crossroad of the Boulevard Richard Lenoir and Boulevard Voltaire, Paris XI
Part of the aftermath of the Siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War. Looking into the photo, people are living normally, busy individuals going to workplaces, launched restaurants and businesses, and mode of transportations are very evident.
Source:
DudesqueReddit
9. Lenexa, Kansas, in 1935 and 2019
Lenexa is a city in Johnson Country, Kansas, United States. Living in Lenexa offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. And this photo is showing the same and the environment is well-preserved.
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Twizzyu/Reddit
10. Flatiron New York, 1996 and 2019
The Flatiron Building, originally the Fuller Building, is a triangular 22-story steel-framed landmarked building located in New York City, and is considered to be a groundbreaking skyscraper. Undeniably, staring at this photo, the building is still sturdy and retained its unique design.
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Whitelimousine/Reddit
11. Aerial view over Bois De Créquy, France – 1943 vs 2019
Bois De Créquy is a forest in Hauts-de-France and has an elevation of 173 metres. The best thing about this photo is that essentially nothing much has changed on how the roads stack up and the planting patterns are still in place all the time, through a world war.
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Checkyminus/Reddit
12. Tulsa Race Massacre, 1921 and 2020
The event remains one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history, and one of the least-known: News reports were mainly suppressed, despite the fact that hundreds of people were killed and thousands left homeless. The old photo looks like a loading screen picture from RDR II.
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VegaRoddrick/Reddit
13. Artillery Lane, London – 1912 and now
Home to London’s oldest Georgian shopfront and site of King Henry VIII’s weapons practice ground – Artillery Lane offers an enchanting glimpse into 17th Century London. It seems that children had more freedom to play outdoors in the past.
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Trevp5470/Reddit
14. A photo was taken in the same location, almost 60 years apart
This is a photo from a student who took the photo at their school. The structure of the building may be the same but clearly, the hairstyle and fashion of these female students are very classic.
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DyerMaker99/Reddit
15. Medici fountain, Luxembourg Gardens, Paris 1890 and present
The Medici fountain is one of the most important decorative elements in the Jardin du Luxembourg. Few people know that it is to the widow of Henri IV, Marie de Médicis, that we owe this beautiful piece of architecture called the “cave of Luxembourg”. It’s lovely to see when the beauty of a place is preserved.
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Stumpjungle/Reddit
16. Another scene in the city of Tübingen, Germany during World War II and now
The shops that line the town square in Tübingen, Markt, Südost Seite, are seen in this picture. Whereas during WWII, the place was used to be a school and these boys (unlike girls) were eager to get on-camera and some making silly faces, like kids, do.
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Bendertheoffender22/Reddit
17. Rua Augusta St. – Lisbon, Portugal, 1950s and now
This is a lively pedestrian street with mosaic pavements, outdoor cafés, international shops, and the occasional street artist and peddler. Indeed, a very beautiful street and Lisbon’s main pedestrian street from the military parade in the 1950s.
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JonPQ/Reddit
18. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the Southern Hemisphere and is known for its natural settings, Carnival, samba, bossa nova, and Balneario beaches. A Brazilian artist combined the old picture of Rio de Janeiro with a recent one from the same perspective. Such a unique form of art!
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Knighty93/Reddit
19. Teilo Crescent, Swansea – 21st February 1941 – 2018
Here was the most heartbreaking story of the Second World War in Swansea, UK. Over 20 family, friends, and neighbors on a small residential street, all lost to a devastating deluge of German bombs. A well-blended photo and interesting that there was a big church to the left and now just houses.
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Convair101/Reddit
20. Another scene of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This is a closer look at one of Rio de Janeiro’s mountainous coastline and gorgeous beaches. It’s evident that some people from the past were relatively traditional and very vintage lifestyle compared to the recent that is radical.
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Knighty93/Reddit
21. Cinnabar, Montana – circa 1900
This was the last stop on the railroad before Yellowstone. Nothing remains of the town today except archeological evidence through which we can learn about the lives of its residents in the late 1800s. The history of the railroads and Yellowstone is fascinating to discover.
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Parawing742/Reddit
22. Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas – November 22, 1963, vs October 23, 2013
Dealey Plaza is a significant part of Dallas history. The old photo was taken seconds after the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. It has remained relatively no transformation for half a century.
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KyserSoze94/Reddit
23. New vs Old Paris in World War II
Paris fell to Nazi Germany on June 14, 1940, one month after the German Wehrmacht stormed into France. It was very intense to imagine the war in the streets and the complete difference of modern-day Paris.
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Amandacerni/Reddit
24. Le Printemps, Boulevard Haussmann, Paris – 1930
The meaning of Printemps in French is “spring”. The Printemps stores in Boulevard Haussmann, focus on beauty, lifestyle, fashion, accessories, and men’s wear. The photo itself is very interesting, the same way the store is very engaging!
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Amandacerni/Reddit
25. Cmentarz Rakowicki, Kraków, Poland in 1941 and in 2021
This is the grave of a renowned Ukrainian writer, Bohdan Lepky. Rakowicki Cemetery opened at the beginning of the 19th Century, is the resting place of ordinary citizens, war heroes, political figures, artists, poets, etc. You can see from the photo how the cemetery is well maintained and an architectural and artistic gem.
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Jakub23/Reddit
26. Eiffel Tower, 1900
The Eiffel Tower, La Tour Eiffel in French, is still the centerpiece of Paris’ cityscape. More than 7 million people visit this iconic tower every year, according to the attraction’s official website. No wonder people from the past and present are coming back and forth.
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Amandacerni/Reddit
27. Old Town House: Marblehead, Massachusetts, 100 years apart
The townhouse was constructed in 1727. The upper level of the building served as a town hall, while the lower level was originally used as a market. Although the mode of transportation has shifted from horses to automobiles, you would definitely want to live in such a place, right?
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NorthshoreFrank/Reddit
28. Rue de Rivoli during the Nazi occupation c.1942
Rue de Rivoli is a street in central Paris, France. It is a commercial street whose shops include leading fashionable brands. It’s interesting to know more of its history, as the occupation of the Nazi regime and the changes it has undergone.
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Sgtpepperolly/Reddit
29. Palais Garnier in Paris c.1880
The Palais Garnier has been called probably the most famous opera house in the world, a symbol of Paris like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre. It’s lovely how Parisian preserved these structures that have aged for 140+ years.
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Sgtpepperolly/Reddit
30. Sainte-Mère-Eglise, France: 1944 and 2020
During the Normandy invasion, 30 paratroopers landed in the town of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, including 20 paratroopers on the church square. It’s incredible to look at this picture and understand its historical past.
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DiosMioMan2/Reddit
31. Pennsylvania Avenue facing Northwest: 20th Century and 2013
Pennsylvania Avenue is a diagonal street in Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland that connects the White House and the United States Capitol and then crosses the city to Maryland. The place is pretty much the same besides the 20th-century fashion and the mode of transportation, but still well-served and ever so busy street.
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SidewalkFlavoredSoda/Reddit
32. Imperial Garden, Forbidden City
The Imperial Garden is located after the gate of the Terrestrial Tranquility in Forbidden City, Beijing, China. It was a private refuge for the imperial family and it is perhaps the most typical example of Chinese garden design. Nothing much has changed – a fascinating to know why it’s called Forbidden City in the first place, right?
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Nintendo64lad/Reddit
33. Town square in Uelzen, Lower Saxony, Germany – April 1945 and 2021
Same place only years apart, during the Battle of the Rhine. This one is particularly striking. People walk by the monument every day and probably never saw this image, or know of the young man in the photo who may have sacrificed his life to protect it.
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DiosMioMan2/Reddit
34. The Liberation of Paris, August 1944 and March 2018
The Liberation of Paris was a military battle that took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the German garrison surrendered the French capital on 25 August 1944. The photo depicts the freedom from the past (and present) after more than four years of Nazi occupation.
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Tgmail/Reddit
35. Boise, Idaho – then and now
Boise, Idaho is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho and is the county seat of Ada County. The photo characterizes the colorful buildings way back then and the highway being on the go.
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Jrhaberman/Reddit
36. The main square of Świnoujście during German, Soviet and Polish ownership
It is now called the Freedom Square in Bydgoszcz is located in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in the downtown area, between Gdańska Street and the park Casimir the Great. It’s intriguing to delve into the story behind this place yet the differences and similarities in the people and surroundings are notable.
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Galaxy661_pl/Reddit
37. The Courthouse in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA – 1900 mixed with 2021
The Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse was constructed from 1770 to 1771 in the Georgian style. The building was used as a hospital for the Confederate Army after the Battle of Williamsburg. It’s mind-blowing to witness such a place even in a mixed photo where almost nothing has changed other than its mode of transportation.
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Nick40vmi/Reddit
38. Palace of Culture Energetik in Pripyat – in the ’70s with Pripyat a couple of years ago
The city of Pripyat was built to house workers of the nuclear power plant in the 1970s. It has been an abandoned ghost town since the Chernobyl disaster and is now used as a laboratory to study fallout patterns. The city is a really interesting place (on a snowy winter day) to visit in spite of its hurtful background.
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Blozzerg/Reddit
39. Avenue C & E10 Street, New York City – 1970 and 2021
Avenue C was designated Loisaida Avenue in recognition of Puerto Rican heritage of the neighborhood. This photo represents the past and the present living in harmony.
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Clamjam07/Reddit
40. Devil’s Den in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – 1863 and 2015
Devil’s Den is the name given to a ridge strewn with large boulders south of the town of Gettysburg. About 500 yards west is the Gettysburg battlefield. A phenomenal photo of history! On this site, we can visit the Gettysburg National Military Park to pay respect for the mournful past.
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SoggySocks420/Reddit
41. Hitler’s Bunker in Brûly-de-Pesche, Belgium – 1940
The little village of Brûly-de-Pesche, in the South of the Province of Namur, was chosen to be Hitler’s headquarters for three weeks in June 1940. The site was ideally located, only a few kilometers from France, nestled in woodland. The weirdest thing is that you could actually stand in the exact same place he once stood.
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SirKylain/Reddit
42. The old marketplace in Saarbrücken – 1900 and now
Saarbrücken is the capital and largest city of the state of Saarland, Germany. Looking at the picture, you can say that the city has a rich history and numerous cultural attractions.
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Fothomer/Reddit
43. Central District, Seattle – 23 years later
Historically, the Central District has been one of Seattle’s most racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods. After more than two decades, nothing much has changed. It’s a home for everyone!
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AbdulKassamali/Reddit
44. York in the early 1900s with December 2020
York is a cathedral city and unitary authority area, at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss, in England. Looking at the photograph, you would say that York is a lovely place. The Shambles is a wonderful street that brings you back in time.
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Blozzerg/Reddit
45. Randsburg, California 1897 and present street view
Many movies and music videos have been shot on location in Randsburg, due to the uniqueness of it being a
mostly abandoned ghost town that still has basic amenities and plenty of local color. This desert gold mining town is captivating to visit someday.
mostly abandoned ghost town that still has basic amenities and plenty of local color. This desert gold mining town is captivating to visit someday.
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Stumpjungle/Reddit
46. The Ferry Building of San Francisco, California – the 1960s to 2010
The San Francisco Ferry Building is a terminal for ferries that travel across the San Francisco Bay, a food hall, and an office building. Since then, the clock tower has undoubtedly served its function in this bustling area. Since then, the clock tower has ultimately served its purpose in this bustling area.
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The_Montclair_Comet/Reddit
47. Masonic Temple from 1909 and 2020
The Masonic Temple in Lewistown, Montana is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A significant portion of Lewistown’s architecture is native sandstone, due to a nearby abundance of quality building stone. Indeed, determination and hard work always pay off.
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MT_Original/Reddit
48. Havana, Cathedral in Cuba 1950 – 2018
The Cathedral of The Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception (also known in Spanish as La Catedral de la Virgen María de la Concepción Inmaculada de La Habana) is one of the eleven Roman Catholic cathedrals on the island of Cuba. The Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier once described its appearance as “music set in stone”. And if those stones could sing, they would certainly have plenty of stories to tell.
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BaileyObsorne/Reddit
49. Montecatini Terme, Italy – 1945 and 2017
This Terme Tettuccio is one of several spas set in a park inside the town of Montecatini Terme. The old photo was taken during the World War II. This is a well preserved architectural gem.
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Dsiegel2275/Reddit
50. The Round Church, Cambridge, United Kingdom
The round design of the church was inspired by the circular Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and widely regarded as one of the holiest sites in Christendom. This is one of the marvellous pieces of architecture in Cambridge.
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Muglug/Reddit
