Vintage Photos Of Cities And Landmarks Around The World
These cities are known around the world—but can you recognize them without high-definition cameras and contemporary skylines? If you’re up for a challenge, see if you can match these 30 vintage photos to the world-famous cities where they were taken.
We can start with an easy one. Even in this 1940s black-and-white picture, Grand Central Station is one of the most recognizable train stations in the world. Open to the public since 1913, Grand Central is more than just a transit stop—for thousands of tourists, the station is one of Manhattan’s great landmarks in its own right.
Another easy one—for anyone who knows their history, at least. Marking the border between East and West Berlin, the Berlin Wall (pictured here on November 10, 1989) stood for almost three decades and served as a symbol of the “Iron Curtain” separating the West from the Soviet Union.
If you find yourself ducking into a European café—especially a spot like the one pictured here in Madrid in 1926—you hopefully like your coffee strong. Espresso is a huge part of Europe’s vibrant coffee culture, and Spain’s unique torrefacto method of preserving coffee beans may leave your next coffee order tasting a tad more bitter than you’re used to.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly trip to the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, and Great Pyramids of Giza, look no further than the famous Las Vegas strip (pictured here in 1979). As much as the strip has changed over the years, one thing has remained the same: it’s the premiere location for anyone looking for a night of dancing, gambling and general rowdiness.
This is a hard one—after all, the architectural landscape of Mumbai in the present day is known for its trove of Art Deco buildings. When this photograph was taken around 1880, however, the streets looked very different, defined by horse-drawn carriages, gas street lamps and sheltered storefronts.
Vintage cars, palm trees, Art Deco architecture, a splash of pastel purple—if you thought that all signs point to Miami, you would be right. With a culture and aesthetic inspired by the city’s beachside location and large Cuban population, Miami is truly a city with an unmistakable look.
Philadelphia might not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of glitter and glamorous costumes—unless, of course, you already know about the Mummers Parade. A folk festival and one of Philly’s cultural staples, the parade, while enjoyed by all demographics, has been especially significant to the LGBTQ+ and drag community, such as the performers pictured above in the 1937 festival.
Even if you weren’t familiar with the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, the fact that over 80% of Mexicans are Catholic should be a strong hint. This Mexico City cathedral (pictured here in 1928), grandiose in both name and design, is one of the country’s top cultural landmarks—although every year, it sinks deeper into the soft clay soil the building rests on.
It might be hard to recognize the Sydney skyline without its famous Opera House, which, believe it or not, was not opened until 1973. The city’s equally notable Harbour Bridge, however, opened to the public in 1932, and is visible in this 1960s shot.
If you were in the capital of Ireland today, you might enjoy a tour of Dublin Castle or a matinee at the Abbey Theatre. If you were in the city on June 28, 1922, unfortunately, you would likely be unable to see much of anything through the billows of smoke due to a massive explosion at the Four Courts. At the beginning of the Irish Civil War of 1922-23, Dublin was no stranger to violence, having just lived through the Irish War of Independence (1919-21) and the infamous Bloody Sunday killings of November 1920.
Street vendors and markets like the Khan El Khalili Bazaar have been a central facet of Cairo’s cultural identity for centuries—and there’s photographic evidence to prove it. This photo, dated around the 1880s, shows a market vendor tending to the family business alongside his children.
It might not be the Trevi, but Piazza Navona and its three fountains, in Rome, is still worth a visit. One of them, Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune), was started in 1574 but remained unfinished for 300 years, just 30 years before this photo was snapped at the beginning of the 1900s.
As with all cities, a lot has changed about Honolulu since 1945 when this snapshot was taken, but not its location nestled in the foothills of the stunning Ko’olau mountain range. Honolulu is the newest state capital in the U.S., but historians estimate the ancient city was established as early as 1100 CE.
“Vedado” may literally mean “forbidden” in Spanish, but this neighbourhood of Havana is nothing short of a welcoming sight. While this 1950s vintage photo captures its towering apartments and seaside views, El Vedado neighbourhood is actually notable for its historic architecture, namely the opulent mansions that popped up in the early 20th century.
It’s known as “the city of love,” and visitors often flock to Venice for a romantic getaway—but with rising sea levels and sinking terrain, tourists and locals alike sometimes have to bail themselves out of floodwater instead of cozying up in a gondola. At least, these folks in 1964 found a clever way to wade through Piazza San Marco while keeping dry.
With a massive population of over 27 million, the Bund area of Shanghai certainly looks a lot different today than it did 120 years ago. While it may be without the eye-catching skyscrapers the megacity is now recognized for, the Bund was still a bustling central business district in the early 1900s when this photograph was taken.
If you look beyond the massive crowds obstructing your view, you may be able to see that you’re looking at London’s Trafalgar Square. The space has been used as a gathering place for many reasons over the years, although in this instance, it’s being used for celebration: it’s V-E Day on May 7, 1945 and thousands have gathered to rejoice the end of World War II in Europe.
Aside from New York, no city in the U.S. has more skyscrapers than Chicago. In the year 1950, the skyline may not have boasted quite as many buildings as it does today, but there are still quite a few iconic skyscrapers visible in this shot, including the Tribune Tower, the Mather Tower and the Wrigley Building.
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