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Photos from the CAC archives

Chicago has changed a lot since its founding in the 1830s. Here’s a look at some of the city’s most iconic architecture throughout the years.

Chicago has changed a lot since its founding in the 1830s. Here’s a look at some of the city’s most iconic architecture throughout the years.

Raymond L. MoldenhauerRaymond L. Moldenhauer

Today, with more buildings going up, new parks being built and old structures coming down, it's tough to imagine what the city looked like a few years ago—let alone a few decades ago. Check back here every Thursday to view photos of Chicago's past from the CAC archives and the Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection.

Raymond’s collection was donated to CAC by his daughters in 2006, a year after his passing. He was a graduate of Lane Technical High School and went on to work in some of the city’s largest architectural firms. The photos offer a unique perspective of the city over a 30-year period, through the eyes of an architectural field coordinator and job captain. Raymond shot many of the photos on construction sites between 1955 and 1982, during his time with Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM) and Perkins + Will. As a result, he captured a remarkable era when new, iconic architecture was being introduced in the city.

  • View of Art Deco skyscrapers looking northeast across Chicago’s skyline from the Loop, 1954 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    View of Art Deco skyscrapers looking northeast across Chicago’s skyline from the Loop, 1954 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Congress Parkway being constructed through the Old Chicago Main Post Office, circa 1954 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Congress Parkway being constructed through the Old Chicago Main Post Office, circa 1954 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Inland Steel Building under construction, 1957 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Inland Steel Building under construction, 1957 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • 875 N. Michigan Ave (under construction) and the Allerton Hotel, 1968 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    875 N. Michigan Ave (under construction) and the Allerton Hotel, 1968 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • View from 875 N. Michigan Ave, 1969 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    View from 875 N. Michigan Ave, 1969 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Grand Central Station, 1969 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Grand Central Station, 1969 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Chase Tower, then known as First National Plaza, circa 1969 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Chase Tower, then known as First National Plaza, circa 1969 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Grant Park looking south from One Prudential Plaza, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Grant Park looking south from One Prudential Plaza, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Lake Point Tower and the old S curve on Lake Shore Drive, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Lake Point Tower and the old S curve on Lake Shore Drive, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Lake Point Tower, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Lake Point Tower, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Woods Theatre (foreground) and Marina City (background), 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Woods Theatre (foreground) and Marina City (background), 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Marina City and IBM Plaza (330 N. Wabash) under construction, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Marina City and IBM Plaza (330 N. Wabash) under construction, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Art Institute of Chicago (foreground) and the Prudential Building (background), 1971 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Art Institute of Chicago (foreground) and the Prudential Building (background), 1971 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Willis Tower (then Sears Tower) under construction, 1971 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Willis Tower (then Sears Tower) under construction, 1971 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • AON Center being constructed (then known as the Standard Oil Building), 1971 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    AON Center being constructed (then known as the Standard Oil Building), 1971 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Aon Center (formerly the Standard Oil Building) under construction, 1972 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Aon Center (formerly the Standard Oil Building) under construction, 1972 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • CNA Center and AON Center (then known as the Standard Oil Building) being constructed, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    CNA Center and AON Center (then known as the Standard Oil Building) being constructed, 1970 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • The last remnants of the Old Chicago Stock Exchange after demolition, 1972 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    The last remnants of the Old Chicago Stock Exchange after demolition, 1972 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Metropolitan Correctional Center under construction, 1973 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Metropolitan Correctional Center under construction, 1973 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) under construction, 1973 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) under construction, 1973 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • 875 N. Michigan Ave (formerly John Hancock Center), 1973 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    875 N. Michigan Ave (formerly John Hancock Center), 1973 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • View of North Michigan Avenue, circa 1975 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    View of North Michigan Avenue, circa 1975 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

  • View looking northeast from the Willis (Sears) Tower, 1985 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

    View looking northeast from the Willis (Sears) Tower, 1985 (Raymond L. Moldenhauer Collection)

Here’s a list of the historic photos featured so far in the gallery above.

  • View of Art Deco skyscrapers looking northeast across Chicago’s skyline from the Loop, 1954
  • Congress Parkway being constructed through the Old Chicago Main Post Office, circa 1954
  • Inland Steel Building under construction, 1957
  • 875 N. Michigan Ave (formerly John Hancock Center) (under construction) and the Allerton Hotel, 1968
  • View from 875 N. Michigan Ave (formerly John Hancock Center), 1969
  • Grand Central Station, 1969
  • Chase Tower, then known as First National Plaza, circa 1969
  • Grant Park looking south from One Prudential Plaza, 1970
  • Lake Point Tower and the old S curve on Lake Shore Drive, 1970
  • Lake Point Tower, 1970
  • Woods Theatre (foreground) and Marina City (background), 1970
  • Marina City and IBM Plaza (330 N. Wabash) under construction, 1970
  • Art Institute of Chicago (foreground) and the Prudential Building (background), 1971
  • Willis Tower (then Sears Tower) under construction, 1971
  • Aon Center being constructed (then known as the Standard Oil Building), 1971
  • Aon Center (formerly the Standard Oil Building) under construction, 1972
  • CNA Center and AON Center (then known as the Standard Oil Building) being constructed, 1970
  • The last remnants of the Old Chicago Stock Exchange after demolition, 1972
  • Metropolitan Correctional Center under construction, 1973
  • Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) under construction, 1973
  • 875 N. Michigan Ave (formerly John Hancock Center), 1973
  • View of North Michigan Avenue, circa 1975
  • View looking northeast from the Willis (Sears) Tower, 1985