60 years has made a big difference in the urban form of American cities. This visual tool is a way to review the scope of these changes. In many cases, the most notable changes are a legacy of the urban renewal programs and planning of the mid-century period. This often meant the clearance of large swaths of developed urban land, especially downtown districts and Black, immigrant, or low-income areas and replacement with freeways, institutions, and mega-projects. For additional context and readings, visit the project homepage.

We put together these sliders to show how cities have changed over half a century.