# Past Chicago — Historic Photos on the map

> Historic Chicago photos on an interactive map, with search and filtering by year. (iPhone/iPad app by Boxcue Technologies LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/past-chicago/id511023472 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Boxcue Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/511023475)
- Category: Education, Reference
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 10 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 9 MB
- Released: 2012-03-31
- Data updated: 2026-09-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/past-chicago/id511023472/reviews.md

## What is Past Chicago?

You know the street. You might not recognize the photograph.

Past Chicago puts thousands of historic photographs on a map of the city. Start with your neighborhood, follow the lakefront, or wander through the Loop. Tap a place to see its buildings and street scenes from years gone by.

Stop by Riverview Park or explore the 1893 World's Fair. Some places are instantly recognizable; others might have you checking the street signs.

Find your own way through the collection:

- Search for places and addresses, or use Locate Me to see what's nearby.
- Filter by year to explore a different era, then browse the available photographs at each location.
- Open a photograph full screen, swipe through the gallery, and zoom in for a closer look.
- Save places you'd like to revisit.

There's a little motion, too: watch a silent 1897 street scene filmed at State and Madison, right on the map where it happened.

Every photograph includes its archive source, credit and available date information. Open the original archive record to keep looking. Approximate locations are labeled, with notes to help make sense of streets and addresses that have changed.

The entire collection is free. No ads, subscriptions or in-app purchases.

Made for iPhone and iPad. Location permission is optional, so you can explore Chicago from anywhere.

TERMS OF USE (EULA)
https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Privacy Policy
https://pastchicago.com/privacy

## Key features

- Historic photos on an interactive map
- Search by place or address
- Filter by year
- View full-screen photos
- Save favorite places
- Includes archive source and date information

## Recent user reviews (4 of 4)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/past-chicago/id511023472/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Xxx

*2013-12-29*

Love this app! The history and old photos are wonderful! 5 stars plus!

### 4/5 — Get to know Chicago

*2013-10-12*

Great app with lots of interesting photos & videos. If you like Jeffrey Baer shows this app is for you. The history story is good for kids.

### 5/5 — Cool App

*2012-04-23*

I love visiting Chicago and this was a cool app to check out!!!

### 4/5 — Nice

*2012-04-01*

Interesting photos from the past, hope they add more in the future.

## Frequently asked questions about Past Chicago

### What is Past Chicago?

Past 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.

### How does Past Chicago help me learn about history?

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.

### Can I use Past Chicago offline?

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.

### Is Past Chicago suitable for children?

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.

### How often is Past Chicago updated?

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.

### What devices is Past Chicago available on?

Past Chicago is made for iPhone and iPad devices. It is compatible with both platforms, offering a consistent experience across Apple's mobile ecosystem.

### Does Past Chicago have ads?

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.

### Where can I find more information about the photos in Past Chicago?

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.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0 — 2026-09-09

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.

### 2.011 — 2013-03-08

Bug Fixes

### 2.01 — 2013-03-06

NEW on iPad version (and coming soon to iPhone/iPod)

* Story of Chicago - Animated interactive e-book, for all ages, telling the story of Chicago from the 1600s on!

### 1.761 — 2013-02-22

Fixed bug where video continues to play when returning to main menu

### 1.76 — 2013-02-20

Videos added - Browse through old videos of events and the city

People and old advertisements added to Illustrations (iPad only)

Performance improvements

Bug Fixes

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-10.*
