10 Photos of Popular Landmarks 100 Years Ago vs. Now

Each year, millions of travelers flock to the world’s most famous landmarks. As instantly recognizable as the Taj Mahal or the Hollywood sign may be, these familiar sights weren’t always as we see them today. A century ago, many looked noticeably different in their shapes, colors, or surroundings. Below, take a look at how time, restoration, and modern life have transformed 10 popular landmarks around the world.

Hollywood Sign – Los Angeles, California

Perched high in the hills overlooking Los Angeles, the iconic Hollywood sign started out as a billboard for a real estate development. When it first went up in 1923, it read, “Hollywoodland,” and by the late 1940s, the sign, which was only ever intended to be temporary, was in major disrepair. It wasn’t until the late 1970s that the Hollywood sign was rebuilt (with the extra “-land” at the end removed), and it became the symbol of Tinseltown that we know it as today. 

Times Square – New York, New York

When it was completed in 1904, One Times Square was the gleaming new headquarters of The New York Times. Then called the Times Tower, the 25-story skyscraper may be modest by today’s skyline standards, but at the time, it was Manhattan’s second-tallest building. Its sleek profile, ornamental columns, and carved cornices reflected the style of the era, but over the decades, the Times moved out, the exterior changed significantly, and the tower’s walls were covered with the enormous LED screens you’ll find all over America’s most-visited tourist destination today. 

Taj Mahal – Agra, India

By the 1920s, the Taj Mahal was already almost three centuries old. India’s most famous landmark was built in the 1600s by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Photos from about 100 years ago show a quieter version of the Taj Mahal, with fewer visitors and much thicker gardens all around. Today, around 6 million people visit the stunning symmetrical structure and its carefully landscaped grounds annually. Conservationists have worked over the years to protect its white marble from pollution and acid rain, even giving it occasional cosmetic mud baths to draw out surface grime. 

Eiffel Tower – Paris, France

When the Eiffel Tower debuted at the 1889 Paris Exposition, it sparked outrage among many Parisians, with critics deeming it “monstrous.” Though it was once slated for demolition, by the 1920s, the Eiffel Tower had become an integral part of the Paris skyline — less for its structure and more so for its use as a radio tower during World War I. In its earlier days, the landmark sported different colors than the neutral brownish hue we know today, initially appearing as Venetian red and, at one time, bright yellow. In the postwar years, the rest of Paris’ skyline changed as well, making the view from the Eiffel Tower much more robust than it once was.

Chichen Itza – Yucatan, Mexico

A century ago, the famous El Castillo pyramid at the Maya archaeological site Chichen Itza was half hidden under overgrown greenery. As archaeologists further excavated and restored the ancient Maya city throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the site’s defining temples, ball courts, and sacred cenotes that had been untouched for centuries came to life once again. Now, the city is a revered tourist attraction, offering a fascinating glimpse into Maya culture. 

The White House – Washington, D.C.

In photos from the 1920s, the White House is mostly the same neoclassical mansion we know now, but slightly more subdued and surrounded by less mature landscaping. President Harry S. Truman’s renovations beginning in the late 1940s added a balcony to the South Portico, but the North Portico, the public entrance facing Pennsylvania Avenue, has remained largely unchanged other than tree and hedge growth over the years. But with renovations currently underway, the White House’s East Wing will soon look very different than it does today. 

Machu Picchu – Peru

American professor and explorer Hiram Bingham found Machu Picchu by accident in 1911, which brought the remarkable Inca citadel to international attention. Early photos show a site overgrown with dense vegetation and suffering crumbling steps and terraces. Over the next century, careful restoration revealed the scale and sophistication of the site, and today its temples and water channels remain relatively well preserved high in the Andes mountains of Peru. 

Great Sphinx of Giza – Egypt

Despite previous excavations, by 1920 the Great Sphinx was still buried almost to its shoulders in sand. Further excavations throughout the 1920s and ’30s, primarily led by French excavator Emile Baraize, uncovered the full limestone figure and revealed its immense scale (along with the ravages of time). Restoration projects have since stabilized the monument, even as desert conditions continue to erode its surface. All the while, the Sphinx has stood guard at the edge of the Giza Plateau for at least 4,500 years — and possibly much longer.

Sydney Harbour – Sydney, Australia

Sydney’s harbor was already bustling with boats and busy ferries by the 1920s, but at that time it was still missing its two defining landmarks. The Harbour Bridge and its famous arch wouldn’t open until 1932, and the Opera House didn’t appear until 1973. Together, they reshaped the city’s skyline and turned Port Jackson into one of the most recognizable views in the world. 

Big Ben and Houses of Parliament – London, U.K.

Located on the banks of the River Thames, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament have long defined London’s skyline. By the 1920s, the clock tower had already been chiming for about 60 years, but the city around it was far quieter, with more lower-rise buildings and horse-drawn buggies rather than cars along the riverbanks. Though the surrounding area was scarred by World War II bombings, repairs, restorations, and new growth over the years have changed the view around Big Ben dramatically. The clock itself was also recently refurbished to its Victorian prime.