Would You Recognize These 9 Iconic Streets Way Back When?

Postcard-perfect and strictly pedestrian, today’s fully restored brick and red-shuttered townhomes on Elfreth’s Alley are a prime destination spot for sightseers. Visitors to the alley can tour the Mantua Maker's Museum House and take a leisurely stroll along the lane’s ageless bricks and cobblestones. If you can, schedule your visit for the first weekend in June when Elfreth’s Alley’s residents open their homes, allowing the public a rare glimpse inside these historic treasures.

Related: 7 Fictional Towns You Can Visit in Real Life

Flamboyance and flair define today’s Bourbon Street. A raucous mix of bars, gentlemen’s clubs, and colorful Cajun restaurants give visitors a sense of Mardi Gras all year long. Multi-level balconies, restored Baroque structures, and blazing neon signs offer an eclectic combination of history and contemporary culture. Visitors can take part in the French Quarters’ endless merrymaking at local establishments, such as Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo.

Related: Step Inside 12 Hotels That Take You Back in Time

Nestled in the oldest city on the United States (St. Augustine was founded in 1565), Old St. George Street was named after King George III in the late 1800s. Depicted here in the 1940s, the street was once dotted with quaint shops and markets—but nary a sidewalk in sight.

Related: The 22 Weirdest Town Names Ever Put on the Map

Sporting hoop skirts and bonnets, pedestrians on Acorn Street celebrate Old Boston Day in 1925, retracing the footsteps of the city’s earliest residents. Dating to the 18th Century, the lane's modest Greek revival brick buildings once served as residences to coachmen who worked for wealthy families that lived in mansions elsewhere in Beacon Hill’s historic neighborhood. The cobblestone lane, barely two-cows-wide, was a bumpy ride for wagons and new-fangled horseless carriages.

Related: 16 Iconic American Homes Torn Down Before Their Time

One of the few remaining streets paved with true cobblestones, today, Acorn Street is considered one of the “most photographed streets in the U.S.” Fully restored brick townhouses, complete with picturesque window boxes, operable shutters, and gaslights tucked tightly against brick walls, transport visitors to an earlier time. Working-class blokes no longer live here. A restored Acorn Street townhouse can set you back two million dollars, or more.

Related: 7 Ways to Trace Your Home's History

Boasting some of the tallest buildings in the city, Wall Street also houses the Federal Hall National Memorial, The Library of Congress, and many other landmark structures. Visitors can catch a glimpse of relics from the Gilded Age, blended with Art Deco and Neoclassic architecture as they gaze toward the ornate Trinity Church that sits at the end of the street. 

Related: The Biggest Home Trends from the Decade You Were Born

In the 1930s, Pennsylvania Avenue was already renowned as the street that connected the Capitol building and the White House. Constructed during the founding of the nation, and nicknamed the “Grand Avenue” by George Washington, the street was often ridiculed as being too wide. To keep the dust down, it was first paved with cobblestones, then wood, and then Belgian blocks before finally being paved with asphalt in 1876.

Related: 10 Small Towns with Big Home Bargains

In the 1940s, cable cars and automobiles competed for the right-of-way on New York City’s busy Broadway Street. What began as a Native American trail on Manhattan Island, morphed into a thoroughfare when Dutch immigrants settled the area. After the Civil War, musical theaters popped up along the prestigious street. It wasn’t uncommon to hop a streetcar in the 1920s, to take you from one end of Manhattan to the other.

Related: What 11 Ordinary People Paid to Live in Your Favorite Movie Homes

In the city that never sleeps, Broadway is home to dozens of professional theaters making it a dream destination of thespians around the world. Today, the street runs one-way along its busiest length, with portions blocked off to automobile traffic altogether, such as where it crosses Times Square. In and around Broadway's theater district, visitors will find countless shops, restaurants, and upscale retailers.

Related: 16 Weirdly Awesome Summer Vacation Rentals on Airbnb

As a result of two and three centuries of solid construction practices, and due to faithful restoration efforts, you can still see many of the historic buildings that were built on Washington Street in its earlier days. The old Ferdinand building, now a Walgreens, is just one of the notable structures that remain. Others include the Old State House, circa 1713, the Old Corner Bookstore, erected in 1712, and the Paramount Theater that still boasts its 1930’s Art Deco style.

Related: Bob Vila's Architecture Bucket List: 10 Must-See Wonders

The late 19th century brought an air of prosperity to Royal Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Charted during the French Colonial era, the buildings on Royal Street were constructed of French and Spanish architecture, blended with a smattering of Creole influence. Wrought iron railings were hand-forged and wealth was evident in every detail.

Related: 8 Tiny Homes You Can Buy for the Price of a Luxury Car

Discover and admire beautiful and innovative home architecture, from grand Victorians to quaint cabins and all the styles in between. Take a look at the latest images and inspiration!