21 Famous Cities That Range From "It Looked Like This 100 Years Ago" To "Is That Actually The Same Place?"

    I didn't know Moscow looks like this now.

    Hope Lasater
    by Hope Lasater

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Because time and geography are both fascinating, here are 21 large and/or famous cities throughout the world 100 years ago and today.

    My apologies for the abundance of European cities versus the lack of South American cities, and the all-but-one lack of African cities. I could not find sufficient photos of South American or most African cities from 100 years ago.

    1. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Beijing, China.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Beijing in 1921.

    Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Images

    This is an illustrated postcard of a street leading to Zhengyangmen, or Chien Men Gate. It is a gate in Beijing's city wall.

    And here is Beijing in 2021.

    Wu Luping/VCG via Getty Images

    This is the Beijing skyline on April 3, 2021.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Images, Wu Luping/VCG via Getty Images

    2. Looked basically the same 100 years ago: Manchester, England.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Manchester in 1921.

    Science & Society Picture Library / SSPL via Getty Images

    This is Oxford Road in Manchester.

    And here is Manchester in 2021.

    Allan Baxter / Getty Images

    This is a street in Manchester, with Chancery place skyscraper in the background.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Science & Society Picture Library / SSPL via Getty Images, Allan Baxter / Getty Images

    3. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Monte Carlo, Monaco.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Monte Carlo in 1921.

    Topical Press Agency / Stringer / Getty Images

    This is Mrs. Charles Bentinck-Budd and her pet lemur on the terrace at Monte Carlo on January 21, 1921.

    And here is Monte Carlo in 2021.

    Jeremy Woodhouse / Getty Images

    This is part of the Monte Carlo harbor.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Topical Press Agency / Stringer / Getty Images, Jeremy Woodhouse / Getty Images

    4. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Cairo, Egypt.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is art of Cairo in 1921.

    Pictures Now / Alamy Stock Photo

    And here is Cairo in 2021.

    AMIR MAKAR/AFP via Getty Images

    This is an aerial view of Cairo's Nasr City district on January 15, 2021.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Pictures Now / Alamy Stock Photo, AMIR MAKAR/AFP via Getty Images

    5. Looked basically the same 100 years ago: Antwerp, Belgium.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Antwerp in 1921.

    Topical Press Agency / Stringer / Getty Images

    This is Antwerp's market square.

    And here is Antwerp in 2021.

    Harald Nachtmann / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Topical Press Agency / Stringer / Getty Images, Harald Nachtmann / Getty Images

    6. Looked completely different 100 years ago: New York City, United States.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is New York City in 1921.

    Bettmann Archive via Getty Images

    This is Times Square in March 1921.

    And here is New York City in 2021.

    Alexi Rosenfeld / Getty Images

    This is Times Square on October 26, 2021.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Bettmann Archive via Getty Images, Alexi Rosenfeld / Getty Images

    7. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Kolkata, India.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Kolkata in 1921.

    Bristol Archives/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    This is a view of the Victoria Memorial.

    And here is Kolkata in 2021.

    Samir Jana/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

    This is the Victoria Memorial Hall on India's 75th Independence Day, on August 15, 2021.

    And, to show the difference even more, here's another picture of Kolkata in 2021.

    Soltan Frédéric / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Bristol Archives/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, Samir Jana/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

    8. Looked basically the same 100 years ago: Venice, Italy.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Venice in 1921.

    ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images

    And here is Venice in 2021.

    Francesco Vaninetti Photo / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images, Francesco Vaninetti Photo / Getty Images

    9. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Tokyo, Japan.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Tokyo in 1921.

    Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Images

    This is Ginza Street in 1921.

    And here is Tokyo in 2021.

    Yusuke Harada/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    This is the Ginza in October 2, 2021.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Images, Yusuke Harada/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    10. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Kingston, Jamaica.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Kingston in 1921.

    F.G.W. Isaacson/Royal Geographical Society via Getty Images

    This is King Street in 1921.

    And here is Kingston in 2021.

    Peeter Viisimaa / Getty Images

    This is a view of New Kingston.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    F.G.W. Isaacson/Royal Geographical Society via Getty Images, Peeter Viisimaa / Getty Images

    11. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Moscow, Russia.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Moscow in 1921.

    Topical Press Agency / Stringer / Getty Images

    This is the Kremlin.

    And here is Moscow in 2021.

    Vasil Nanev / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Topical Press Agency / Stringer / Getty Images, Vasil Nanev / EyeEm / Getty Images

    12. Looked basically the same 100 years ago: Paris, France.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Paris in 1921.

    Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    This is a staircase in Montmartre.

    And here is Paris in 2021.

    Kiran Ridley / Stringer / Getty Images

    This is a restaurant in Montmartre on October 9, 2021.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, Kiran Ridley / Stringer / Getty Images

    13. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Chicago, United States.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Chicago in 1921.

    Chicago History Museum / Getty Images

    And here is Chicago in 2021.

    Quinn Harris / Stringer / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Chicago History Museum / Getty Images, Quinn Harris / Stringer / Getty Images

    14. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Sydney, Australia.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Sydney in 1921.

    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

    This is the Sydney harbor.

    Here is Sydney in 2021.

    Vijay Anand / Getty Images/500px Prime

    This is a view containing the Sydney harbor.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Vijay Anand / Getty Images/500px Prime

    15. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Istanbul, Turkey (then officially Constantinople)

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Istanbul (Constantinople) in 1921.

    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

    This is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (colloquially known as The Blue Mosque) on February 2, 1921.

    Here is Istanbul in 2021.

    Lokman Akkaya/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    This is the Hagia Sophia on August 1, 2021.

    And, to show the difference even more, here's another picture of Istanbul in 2021.

    Ayhan Altun / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Lokman Akkaya/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    16. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Colombo, Sri Lanka.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Colombo in 1921.

    Gircke/Ullstein Bild Dtl. / ullstein bild via Getty Images

    This is the Colombo Hindu festival.

    And here is Colombo in 2021.

    Boy_Anupong / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Gircke/Ullstein Bild Dtl. / ullstein bild via Getty Images, Boy_Anupong / Getty Images

    17. Looked basically the same 100 years ago: Rome, Italy.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Rome in 1921.

    Keystone View Company/FPG / Getty Images

    This is a military cortage passing the tomb of the unknown soldier in Piazza Venezia.

    And here is Rome in 2021.

    Massimo Di Vita/Archivio Massimo Di Vita/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

    This is the Day of National Unity and the Day of the Armed Forces on November 4, 2021, in Piazza Venezia.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Keystone View Company/FPG / Getty Images, Massimo Di Vita/Archivio Massimo Di Vita/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

    18. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Manila, the Philippines.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Manila in 1921.

    Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Images

    This is an illustrated postcard of Luneta Park, or Rizal Park.

    And here is Manila in 2021.

    TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images

    This picture shows Roman Catholics attending mass during the middle of the pandemic on January 9, 2021, on the annual celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene.

    And to show the difference even more, here's another picture of Manila in 2021.

    Nikada / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Images, TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images

    19. Looked basically the same 100 years ago: Munich, Germany.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Munich in 1921.

    ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images

    This is a demonstration against the Treaty of Versailles.

    And here is Munich in 2021.

    Seng Chye Teo / Getty Images

    This is the city center of Munich.

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images, Seng Chye Teo / Getty Images

    20. Looked completely different 100 years ago: Los Angeles, United States.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Los Angeles in 1921.

    Hulton Archive / Getty Images

    This is the back lot at Universal City Studios in the San Fernando Valley.

    And here is Los Angeles in 2021.

    Thiwakorn Promprai / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Hulton Archive / Getty Images, Thiwakorn Promprai / EyeEm / Getty Images

    21. Finally, looked basically the same 100 years ago: Prague, Czech Republic.

    Yevhen Borysov / Getty Images

    Here is Prague in 1921.

    Scheufler Collection/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

    And here is Prague in 2021.

    Sylvain Sonnet / Getty Images

    Here are the years side-by-side.

    Scheufler Collection/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images, Sylvain Sonnet / Getty Images