It’s wobbly screen time for San Francisco.
These fascinating before and after pictures show how the city has changed over the decades.
Some parts have been transformed – such as Haight Street, which in 1948 was home to the Haight Theater. This has now been demolished and modern buildings stand in its place.
In other areas San Francisco’s heritage is remarkably intact – for example China Town in 1910 looks surprisingly similar to today’s version.
Other comparisons presented here include the Flood Building, Lombard Street and California Street.
Scroll down for a fascinating glimpse into the city’s past…
Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge during its construction between 1933 to 1937. The bridge is 1.7 miles long, linking San Francisco on the south with Marin County on the north
The Golden Gate Bridge pictured today. More than two billion vehicles have passed over the bridge since it opened
City Hall
Construction of San Francisco’s City Hall in 1913. One of the most famous weddings to take place in the building was that of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio in 1954
City Hall pictured today. It has been the used for filming several movies including Dirty Harry and Indiana Jones
Old St Mary’s Cathedral
Old St Mary’s Cathedral has stood on California Street since 1854. It is pictured here in 1900, six years before a huge earthquake almost destroyed the city
The cathedral pictured in modern day San Francisco. It survived the 1906 earthquake but was severely damaged by a huge fire the day after the disaster. A renovation of the church was completed in 1909
Lombard Street
Lombard Street is famous for its steep hairpin bends. It is pictured in 1922 while being constructed
Today, tourists flock to Lombard Street, which is now festooned with flowers, plants, trees and shrubbery
Flood Building
The Flood Building on Market Street pictured during its construction in 1904. When it opened later that year, it was the tallest building in San Francisco
The Flood Building has had many tenants since it opened including the Southern Pacific Railroad and the US government. Now it houses several stores including Gap and Urban Outfitters
Hyde Street Pier
The Hyde Street Pier, which is home to a half-dozen historic ships and is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Park, pictured in 1975
Today the pier houses more than 500,000 photographs and 2,500 pieces of fine art showcasing the region’s rich maritime heritage
China Town
China Town in San Francisco is one of the oldest and most established in the United States. It is pictured left in 1910 and right in the present day
Haight Theater
The Haight Theater, pictured in 1948, standing in the middle of Haight Street in the city. The theater had a large marquee advertising its latest shows
A shot taken from the same spot on Haight Street today shows how the theater has now been demolished and replaced with modern buildings
Sentinel Building
The Sentinel Building, also known as the Columbus Tower, pictured left in 1915. Today, the building, right, is occupied by tenants including Pixar, Skywalker Sounds and Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope studio
Transamerica Building
The Transamerica Building as seen in 1911 in the city’s Jackson Square Historic District. It is adjacent to what is now the Transamerica Pyramid, which opened in 1972
Today, the historic Transamerica Building houses the the Church of Scientology of San Francisco. It has restored many of the building’s original features
- To discover the before and after images blended together click here.