'I've watched my city falter and prosper, crumble and rebuild, lurch forward and regress.' 

So writes native Chicagoan Kathleen Maguire in the introduction to Chicago Then and Now, published by Pavilion, a book that chronicles Chicago's fascinating transformation over the past century and a half. 

Pairing vintage photographs with modern snapshots of the same locations ‘to tell the story of the city’s rich history’, the compendium dives into the past and present of Chicago landmarks including Grant Park, Michigan Avenue Bridge and Wrigley Field baseball stadium.

The introduction to the book reads: ‘Chicago is a city that through history has triumphed over nature and disaster… [it] re-engineered the flow of the Chicago River and challenged gravity with a series of pioneering skyscrapers. It is a story of determination and pride, and the evocative photos on these pages reflect the many faces of Chicago’s heritage.’ 

Maguire, who works as a guide for Walk Chicago Tours, adds: ‘Chicago is a city with a history of world-class builders, writers, entrepreneurs, reformers, philanthropists, and scholars; and it is a city with a history of world-class con artists, rebels, egomaniacs, hucksters, blowhards and criminals. These were often one and the same – and all of them visionaries. 

'Born and raised here, I’ve lived on each of Chicago’s three sides, swum in its lake and sailed on its river, walked its boulevards and ridden its trains, and answer proudly whenever I am asked where I am from… its visionaries show me my city every day, newly imagined and wholly authentic.’ Scroll down to see 20 incredible archival and contemporary shots of the Windy City…

CHICAGO FROM THE AIR - PICTURED IN 1936 AND PRESENT DAY  

AERIAL VIEW OF GRANT PARK - PICTURED IN 1929 AND PRESENT DAY 

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO - PICTURED IN 1895 AND PRESENT DAY  

MICHIGAN AVENUE BRIDGE - PICTURED IN 1929 AND PRESENT DAY 

 333 NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE - PICTURED IN 1950 AND PRESENT DAY 

CHICAGO RIVER LOOKING EAST - PICTURED IN 1950 AND PRESENT DAY  

CHICAGO RIVER LOOKING WEST - PICTURED IN 1950 AND PRESENT DAY

CHICAGO RIVER MAIN BRANCH - PICTURED IN 1893 AND PRESENT DAY 

CHICAGO RIVER SOUTH BRANCH - PICTURED IN 1860 AND PRESENT DAY 

WRIGLEY FIELD - PICTURED IN 1915 AND PRESENT DAY