Then and Now

[joesly]

I had tried to start up a blog a couple of years ago with the same idea: http://beforeboston.tumblr.com/

 

[czsz]

1988 vs. 2013 slider skyline shot from the Globe. Amazing how little changed between 1988 and when I first moved to the area in 1997. Most new construction from the 2000s decade.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/2013/05/28/the-boston-skyline-and/w4SBNnuraDJz1GVN949moJ/story.html

 

[Max Power]

1988 vs. 2013 slider skyline shot from the Globe. Amazing how little changed between 1988 and when I first moved to the area in 1997. Most new construction from the 2000s decade.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/2013/05/28/the-boston-skyline-and/w4SBNnuraDJz1GVN949moJ/story.html

It's only about 4 buildings as far as I can tell. Which for 25 years is kinda sad
-that spaceship looking thing
-liberty mutual
-1 back bay
-shit building on st james (10 st james?)

 

[George_Apley]

Would the Copley Place tower be visible in that shot, or would it be behind the JHT?

 

[czsz]

It's only about 4 buildings as far as I can tell. Which for 25 years is kinda sad
-that spaceship looking thing
-liberty mutual
-1 back bay
-shit building on st james (10 st james?)

Well, relative to the 1988-1997 period, when only one building in that shot went up, it's a lot.

 

[DZH22]

Can somebody post the picture? I can't see it.

 

[Downburst]

Awesome reddit thread. Here, have some GIFs:

1963-2013

1943-2013

 

[datadyne007]

It's really quite amazing to actually see all the buildings that were completely demolished/cut in half to build the CA.

 

[sixten]

Here are a few I compared from the last couple of years. Before photos are from Boston Public Library's Flickr.

Federal Street:

City Hall:

Salt Street:

 

[JohnKeith]

FYI, Salt (sic) Street (Salt Lane) is the road behind the Union Oyster House parallel to Union and Blackstone streets. I'll be damned; I had no idea it existed. Never went in that way. Neat.

http://goo.gl/maps/f4Q6G

 

[cden4]

Wow City Hall has not changed at all. Not even the light fixtures. Nothing. Love the outdoor seating by the restaurant though. Maybe Starbucks could do the same!

 

[JohnKeith]

Re: Salt Lane. So the cobblestones ... added for "historic reproduction" reasons?

 

[Charlie_mta]

I prefer the first picture; it looks like a real city with some grit. The second photo looks like a suburbanized museum.

 

[Justin7]

If anyone knows a very small amount of html, this will allow you to create slider images very easily: http://www.catchmyfame.com/catchmyfame-jquery-plugins/jquery-beforeafter-plugin/

 

[Whats Really Good?]

long time lurker (circa ablarc days), figured i got some pictures, why not share em

Hefferan St, Allston (first pic is from the 60's i believe)

 

[vanshnookenraggen]

Pretty soon you are gonna need a third picture for what's about to be built.

 

[JohnCostello]

I prefer the first picture; it looks like a real city with some grit. The second photo looks like a suburbanized museum.

Have you walked down Salt Lane recently? Plenty o'grit for the nostrils. Lay out some raw hamburger and stand about 50 feet away. You will get a gritty rat soon enough.

 

[Charlie_mta]

Then:

Now:

 

[kz1000ps]

What's that half-height wall at far left in the '50s shot?

 

[davem]

What's that half-height wall at far left in the '50s shot?

Judging by the vent in the modern picture, I'd say something to do with the subway. Probably a vent, possibly egress.