3 min. read

Have you ever wondered how much the Calgary real estate landscape has changed in the last 100 years? With the generous support of the Calgary Public Library, we have created a series of Before/After slides to help you feel the spirit of the old Calgary and compare it with that of Calgary today.

The slides use postcards from the past –going as far back as the beginning of the 20th century– and Google StreetView snapshots of the same places in the present. Even at first glance you’ll see that some of the changes are indeed dramatic!

Move the mouse over the images to see the slides. If you like them, don’t forget to share them with your friends.

1. 8th Avenue (original image)

This postcard is from the 1950s, and it shows 8th Avenue looking East from near 4th Street West. The Lancaster Building, now incorporated into The Core Shopping Centre, is visible in the centre of the picture.

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2. Exhibition Grounds (original image)

Home of the Calgary Stampede, the Exhibition Grounds has gone through lots of changes since 1912, when the first Stampede was held. The Before image is from 1909, and it presents a bird’s eye view of the exhibition grounds and race track which would become the Calgary Stampede 3 years later. Community of Victoria park can be seen on the right hand side of the photograph. The After image is from exactly 100 years later, in 2009.

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3. Wholesale District (original image)

This is a view of 8th Avenue South West looking East with Calgary Dining Parlors on the left and Empire Theatre on the right. The Grosvenor Hotel is on the same side of the street as is the Dining Parlors.

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4. The C.P.R. Station, Palliser Hotel and Ninth Avenue (original image)

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5. Corner 1st Street West and 12th Avenue, showing Pryce Jones and Co.’s Store (original image)

This is a postcard from 1914 showing the Pryce Jones store, which opened on February 14th, 1911.

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6. 8th Avenue (original image)

View of 8th Avenue South West near 1st Street South West, with the Bank of Montreal and Hudson’s Bay Company buildings on the right.

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7. Subway and Grain Exchange, 1st Street, West (original image)

This is a photograph taken in 1913 on 1st Street West, facing north. The Massey-Harris building, located at 9th Avenue and 1st Street is visible. This building was demolished in the early 1960s and the Post Office was built on the site. The Grain Exchange Building is in the background.

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