12 Old Maps Of Famous Cities Compared With What They Look Like Today

The Elbe River divides Dresden. The Altstadt, the old city, sits in the south. The Neustadt, the new city, occupies the north. WWII destroyed much of the city. For centuries, Dresden served as a center of European culture.Allied bombing caused this destruction.A firestorm followed the bombing.

The city hasrebuilt and restored. WWI's legacy remains.WWI's legacy still hangs over the city.

Amsterdam began as a fishing village near a dam on the Amstel River during the 1200s.AmsterdamThe city became the world's economic center during its golden age in the 16th and 17th centuries. Its canals reflect the Dutch Republic's history as a naval mercantile empire.

French occupation and economic recession in the late 1700s damaged many old buildings. Some golden age facades remain in the city center. Amsterdam recovered in the 19th and 20th centuries and is now a top tourist spot in Europe.

Karlsruhe has a fan-shaped layout. It sits in southwestern Germany on the northern edge of the Black Forest. The city started in 1715 with a palace that became the city's focus. Karlsruhe has been a distinguishedexample of the Baden regionKarlsruhe and culture.

Though the city expanded over the last 300 years, its unique layout remains visible today.

The official city developed around 550 CE with St. Kentigern (Mungo) arriving on the River Clyde.GlasgowGlasgow, which means “Green Glen” from the Gaelic name Glaschu, grew on a key spot. It sits between Highland and Lowland Scotland. It also lies between Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, and the West. Glasgow became a key port connecting the Americas and the United Kingdoms of Scotland and England.

Levies and city occupation by Charles Edward Stuart caused difficult times for Glasgow between the 18th and 19th centuries.Charles Edward StuartWars in the Americas disrupted trade, but the city became a ship and heavy industry manufacturer during the Industrial Revolution. Glasgow's industry suffered after WWI, giving the city somenotoriety.Glasgow recovered and grew into a financial and cultural center. Still, it works to shake off its “hard man” reputation.

Rome is said to have been founded in 713 BCE by the legendary Romulus along the Tiber River.RomeRome has been a key Mediterranean city for over 2,800 years. Rome served as the capital for many kingdoms, a Republic city-state, the seat of power for an empire named after it, and the home for the papacy of the Catholic Church. Rome's golden age occurred during the Roman Republic and early Roman Empire, but the city experienced many ups and downs.

Rome lost papal control during the Great Schism in 1305. Napoleon's armies conquered and looted the city. Yet, Rome remains the capital of Italy today, showing its long history.

Strasbourg sits on France’s border with Germany, using the Ill river.Strasbourg mixes French and German influences.Strasbourg sits in a contentious area. Throughout its history, Western European powers constantly took control: the Romans, the Franks, the Holy Roman Empire, Germany, and France.

Today, the old town sits on the Grand Île, divided by the Ill River. UNESCO named this part of the city a World Heritage site in 1988.

Columbus was planned to beColumbus became the political center of Ohio.The Ohio legislature planned Columbus starting in 1812. The city formed along the Scioto and Olentangy rivers in 1816. The city grew through the 19th century, becoming a major staging area for Union forces during the US Civil War.

The city grew fast in the 20th century, becoming a huge industrial center.

Buffalo is currently...Buffalo is New York’s second largest city.Buffalo started humbly. A French trading post on the Niagara River in 1758, it faced destruction and resettlement over fifty years. Expansion grew fast during the 1825 economic boom with the Erie Canal. Buffalo became a trade center during US westward expansion. Today, Buffalo remains a major American transit and trade crossroad.

Vikings established Waterford in 914 CE. The Normans conquered it in the 12th century.Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city.Because Waterford sits on the southeastern end of the Republic of Ireland along the River Suir, the city has had a long history as aWaterford has a cultural and economic link.connecting mainland Europe and the rest of Ireland.

Charleston started as one of the first English colonial cities in North America.CharlestonCharleston (Charles Town when settled in 1670) became one of the 13 original colonies' busiest seaports by the mid-1700s. The city prospered through the 1800s, acting as a key port for exporting goods before the American Revolution. Charleston faced hard times in the 1860s when South Carolina seceded from the Union before the US Civil War.

Charleston faced siege and bombardment during the conflict. The city's struggles continued through Reconstruction. The 1920s saw Charleston reborn as a cultural center during the Charleston Renaissance. A preservation effort starting in the 1940s kept many old buildings. Charleston now functions as a living museum.

Bartholomew Columbus, brother of Christopher Columbus, founded the city in 1496.Santo DomingoSanto Domingo became the capital of the first Spanish colony in the New World. A hurricane destroyed the original city site on the east bank of the Ozama River. The city rebuilt in 1502 on the west bank and grew. Santo Domingo remained a key city during the Spanish colonial era. It served as the Empire's New World government seat until Mexico and Peru were conquered.

Nations sacked and conquered Santo Domingo after the late 16th century. The Dominican Republic gained independence in 1865. Today, Santo Domingo is the Dominican Republic's center for industry, commerce, and finance. The city has grown much since the late 20th century as a tourist spot.

Puducherry, formerly Pondicherry, changed greatly since its founding.Puducherry was founded as a colonial settlement.The French East India Company established it in 1674. The old "French" part of town shows its colonial origins today, marked by its gridded streets.

Today, Puducherry is a seaside tourist resort town on India's southeastern coast. It also serves as the administrative center for the entire Puducherry union territory.