Chicago Then & Now

Living here makes you forget that the lakefront used to be mostly industry. Those scenic parks were once just jagged piles of debris and railroad tracks.

“Chicago is a city of change.”

The Great Fire is usually seen as a tragedy. It really functioned like a violent reset button for the city skyline.

Buildings that seem permanent and heavy are actually quite fragile. So many ornate stone landmarks were demolished just to make room for parking lots.

“The street was a canyon of commerce.”

State Street used to be so crowded you could barely see the pavement. The old photos show a level of energy that feels missing from modern sidewalks.