Explore Chicago's past through thousands of historic photographs overlaid on an interactive map. Discover street scenes and buildings from different eras, search for specific locations, and view original archive details. This app offers a free, ad-free way to virtually wander through the city's history.
3.0
September 9, 2026
Past Chicago is back, rebuilt from the ground up for iPhone and iPad. The map is still where it all starts. - Explore a new map with thousands of historic photographs, from neighborhood streets and the lakefront to Riverview Park and the 1893 World's Fair. - Use Locate Me to find your position and browse nearby places. Location permission is optional, and you can explore from anywhere. - Search for places and addresses, filter by year, and save the spots you want to revisit. - Open photographs full screen, swipe through each location's gallery, and pinch to zoom in on the details. Browse each place's photo collection by date. - Watch Chicago in motion in a silent 1897 street film shot at State and Madison. - Follow archive links for original records, credits and rights information. Approximate locations are labeled, with notes about historical addresses where available. New photographs and corrections can arrive without an app update. The whole collection is free, with no ads, subscriptions or in-app purchases.
MorePast Chicago is an educational app that displays thousands of historic photographs on an interactive map of the city. It allows users to explore street scenes and buildings from different eras and provides details about the archive source and date of each photograph.
Past Chicago facilitates learning by placing historical images directly onto the map where they were taken. You can search for specific locations, filter by year to see how areas changed over time, and zoom into photographs for detailed observation of buildings and street life.
The provided data does not specify offline functionality. However, location permission is optional, allowing exploration from anywhere, suggesting online connectivity may be required for full functionality.
Past Chicago has an age rating of 12+, making it appropriate for teenagers and adults interested in historical content. The app focuses on historical photographs and information about the city.
Past Chicago was last updated on September 9, 2026, indicating a recent update. The app was initially released on March 31, 2012, and has received updates to reach version 3.0.
Past Chicago is made for iPhone and iPad devices. It is compatible with both platforms, offering a consistent experience across Apple's mobile ecosystem.
No, Past Chicago is completely free of ads. The app explicitly states that there are no ads, subscriptions, or in-app purchases, ensuring an uninterrupted user experience.
Each photograph in Past Chicago includes its archive source, credit, and available date information. Users can open the original archive record directly from the app to continue their research and explore further.