Revisit places you may know in current day Boston and see how they appeared many decades earlier. Some places are easy to identify, while others have altered so much that they’re almost beyond recognition. These 10 photos span the years and provide glimpses of the ways in which Boston has both evolved and endured over time.

1. This is what the intersection of Berkeley Street and Stuart Street looked like in 1940.
Wikimedia Commons/City of Boston Archives from West Roxbury, United States
Today, the area to the left of the shot has been filled in with buildings.
2. The Boston Marathon was still a major event in 1940.
Wikimedia Commons/Unknown
So that hasn't changed. Here, winner of the 44th Boston Marathon, Gérard Côté, runs to victory. The French-Canadian won four times during this decade. His time in 1940 was 2:28:28.
3. The type of businesses in Boston have certainly changed over the decades.
Wikimedia Commons/Haskell
This image of Bosworth Street and Providence Street was captured in 1934, when people owned hats that actually required specialized cleaning - according to the sign in the shot. Can't imagine taking my collection of beanies and ball caps to the dry cleaners today!
4. Granary Burying Ground and Park Street Church as they appeared in 1920.
Wikimedia Commons/Boston Public Library
Although you don't expect major landmarks to change much, this spot is almost identical today. However, in contemporary Boston, this is now a one-way street and there is soooo much more traffic.
5. Higginson Elementary School in West Roxbury looks the same as it did in 1926.
Wikimedia Commons/Frank B. Conlin, City of Boston Archives
But the surrounding roads have since been paved.

Related Stories

15 Phrases That Will Make You Swear Bostonians Have Their Own Language

15 Phrases That Will Make You Swear Bostonians Have Their Own Language

 Some People Don’t Know That Boston Was The First To Do These 13 Things

Some People Don’t Know That Boston Was The First To Do These 13 Things

 Relax Your Worries Away At This Unique Massachusetts Hotel With A Rooftop Hot Tub

Relax Your Worries Away At This Unique Massachusetts Hotel With A Rooftop Hot Tub
6. In 1960, it looks like a UFO landed in Boston!
Flickr/Flickr/Boston Landmarks & Archeology
However, this funky domed structure was actually just part of the Domino Sugar refinery in Charlestown. The dome was larger than a football field and reached 100 feet in height.
7. Charlestown was apparently candy production heaven at this time. Here is the Schrafft's Candy Company building, some time between 1955 and 1975.
Flickr/City of Boston Archives
Although the building still stands, it was converted into Schrafft’s City Center complex during the 1980s and mostly contains office space.
8. The Old West Church on Cambridge Street remains unaltered over time.
Wikimedia Commons/BPL
This is what it looked like in 1920... (and today).
9. This location is barely recognizable as Copley Square, circa 1968.
Flickr/Boston Landmarks & Archeology
Prior to 1883, Copley Square was called Art Square. This shot shows the renovation work that took place in the 1960s after Huntington Avenue was closed. The result is the public space we all enjoy today.
10. Even when the transportation in photos morphs from horse-pulled vehicles to cars of different eras, Beacon Street itself always appears the same.
Flickr/Boston Landmarks & Archeology
This image of Beacon Street depicts the section between Clarendon and Dartmouth Streets in 1967.

Did any of these photos surprise you? If you’re interested in Boston’s history, you should also view these rare images captured during the Great Depression, and some then and now photos depicting the same place in different years.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles