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1970s Chicago: Fascinating Photos Show Streets, Landmarks and Everyday Life

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Chicago was thriving and developing in the 1970s. Downtown was a bit quieter and the density of buildings on the Near North Side, especially around River North, was far lower. There were many homeless people living on the streets and the crime rates were also high. Poor neighborhoods were being replaced with massive public housing that solved a few of the problems of poverty and violence. By the late ’70s, the city was beginning to develop its reputation for festivals, starting with ChicagoFest, it changed how people felt about the Pier.

The Chicago Transit Authority ran old and noisy buses that spewed huge clouds of black smoke from their exhaust pipes each time they started moving. Many streets in Chicago in the 1970s, particularly under viaducts and bridges, still showed streetcar tracks that had never been paved over after the last streetcars ran in 1958.

Here below are some stunning photos that show what Chicago looked like in the 1970s. These photographs were captured by Charles William Brubaker, who was a member of the Chicago-based architecture firm Perkins & Will from 1950 until 1998. Vote your favorites and don’t forget to share.

#1 Pedestrians walking in Grant Park with the Loop skyline in the distance, 1970

Pedestrians walking in Grant Park with the Loop skyline in the distance, 1970

8 Points
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#2 Two- and three-story buildings along the north side of West Chicago Avenue, with businesses on the ground floor and apartments above, 1970

Two- and three-story buildings along the north side of West Chicago Avenue, with businesses on the ground floor and apartments above, 1970

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#3 Chicago skyline in winter, looking northwest from near the Adler Planetarium, 1972

Chicago skyline in winter, looking northwest from near the Adler Planetarium, 1972

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#4 View looking north across West North Avenue at a Dominick’s grocery store, part of the Pipers Alley Mall complex, 1978

View looking north across West North Avenue at a Dominick's grocery store, part of the Pipers Alley Mall complex, 1978

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#5 North Sedgwick Street from south of the CTA elevated train tracks, 1971

North Sedgwick Street from south of the CTA elevated train tracks, 1971

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#6 South Commercial Avenue and Immaculate Conception Church, 1972

South Commercial Avenue and Immaculate Conception Church, 1972

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#8 Warehouse demolition, North Pier Terminal, and McClurg Court Center apartments, 1973

Warehouse demolition, North Pier Terminal, and McClurg Court Center apartments, 1973

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#10 Looking east along Grand Avenue from Michigan Avenue toward the high-rise Time-Life Building (541 North Fairbanks Court), 1971

Looking east along Grand Avenue from Michigan Avenue toward the high-rise Time-Life Building (541 North Fairbanks Court), 1971

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#11 Boats in the Diversey Harbor, located within Lincoln Park, 1971

Boats in the Diversey Harbor, located within Lincoln Park, 1971

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#12 Looking north along a thriving commercial strip on South Michigan Avenue, 1972

Looking north along a thriving commercial strip on South Michigan Avenue, 1972

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#13 Michigan Avenue from the northern end of the North Michigan Avenue bridge, 1972

Michigan Avenue from the northern end of the North Michigan Avenue bridge, 1972

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#15 Gino’s East pizzeria sign and parking lot, 1976

Gino's East pizzeria sign and parking lot, 1976

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#18 The sidewalk on the north side of East Chicago Avenue towards North Rush Street, 1976

The sidewalk on the north side of East Chicago Avenue towards North Rush Street, 1976

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#19 The sidewalk on the north side of East Huron Street from east of Rush Street, 1976

The sidewalk on the north side of East Huron Street from east of Rush Street, 1976

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#21 View looking north along North Michigan Avenue from just south of the intersection with East Superior Street, 1970

View looking north along North Michigan Avenue from just south of the intersection with East Superior Street, 1970

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#22 View looking northwest from Calumet Marina, 1972

View looking northwest from Calumet Marina, 1972

Located along the east bank of the Calumet River at East 136th Street and South Torrence Avenue, 1972

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#23 Auditorium building and Congress Hotel along Michigan Avenue, 1972

Auditorium building and Congress Hotel along Michigan Avenue, 1972

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#24 Newberry Plaza condominium tower during construction, looking west along Bellevue Place, 1972

Newberry Plaza condominium tower during construction, looking west along Bellevue Place, 1972

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#26 Standard Oil Building (now Aon Center) under construction, 1973

Standard Oil Building (now Aon Center) under construction, 1973

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#27 South Champlain Avenue, a residential street in Pullman lined with brick duplex row houses, 1974

South Champlain Avenue, a residential street in Pullman lined with brick duplex row houses, 1974

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#30 Hanley Dawson Cadillac and Lawry’s restaurant, 1976

Hanley Dawson Cadillac and Lawry's restaurant, 1976

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#31 Residential neighborhood at North Halsted and Blackhawk Streets, 1976

Residential neighborhood at North Halsted and Blackhawk Streets, 1976

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#33 View northeast from the intersection of North Wabash Avenue and East Huron Streets, 1976

View northeast from the intersection of North Wabash Avenue and East Huron Streets, 1976

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#34 Looking east along Ohio Street towards the Time-Life Building (541 North Fairbanks Court), 1971

Looking east along Ohio Street towards the Time-Life Building (541 North Fairbanks Court), 1971

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#36 East Walton Street towards the entrance to The Drake Hotel, 1976

East Walton Street towards the entrance to The Drake Hotel, 1976

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#37 West side of North State Street, looking north from West Ontario Street, 1976

West side of North State Street, looking north from West Ontario Street, 1976

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#38 North Michigan Avenue towards the high-rise buildings located on the west side of the street south of the intersection with East Superior Street, 1976

North Michigan Avenue towards the high-rise buildings located on the west side of the street south of the intersection with East Superior Street, 1976

3 Points
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#41 William Green Homes, high-rise apartment buildings in the Cabrini-Green public housing development, 1976

William Green Homes, high-rise apartment buildings in the Cabrini-Green public housing development, 1976

Looking northeast along the north side of West Division Street, just east of the intersection with North Crosby Street

3 Points
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#42 East Chicago Avenue, with the Hotel St. Benedict Flats (42-50 East Chicago Avenue) on the left, 1976

East Chicago Avenue, with the Hotel St. Benedict Flats (42-50 East Chicago Avenue) on the left, 1976

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#43 North State Street to the block of North Dearborn Street between West Ohio and West Ontario Streets, with a large parking lot in the foreground, 1976

North State Street to the block of North Dearborn Street between West Ohio and West Ontario Streets, with a large parking lot in the foreground, 1976

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#45 North Franklin Street, from the intersection with West Erie Street, 1978

North Franklin Street, from the intersection with West Erie Street, 1978

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#46 View looking northwest from the intersection of South State Street and Congress Parkway, 1978

View looking northwest from the intersection of South State Street and Congress Parkway, 1978

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#47 Chicago Fire Department station, West Illinois Street, 1978

Chicago Fire Department station, West Illinois Street, 1978

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#52 Germano-Millgate Apartments, a public housing complex located at 8808 South Burley Avenue, 1974

Germano-Millgate Apartments, a public housing complex located at 8808 South Burley Avenue, 1974

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#53 North Paulina Street just north of Howard Street, 1975

North Paulina Street just north of Howard Street, 1975

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#56 East Ohio Street between Rush Street and Michigan Avenue, 1976

East Ohio Street between Rush Street and Michigan Avenue, 1976

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#57 Pedestrians crossing North Michigan Avenue at the intersection with East Chicago Avenue, in front of the Chicago Water Tower, 1976

Pedestrians crossing North Michigan Avenue at the intersection with East Chicago Avenue, in front of the Chicago Water Tower, 1976

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#58 Looking northwest along North Kingsbury Street, from south of the intersection with West Eastman Street, 1976

Looking northwest along North Kingsbury Street, from south of the intersection with West Eastman Street, 1976

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#59 Kennedy Expressway on-ramp towards industrial buildings along North Orleans Street, 1976

Kennedy Expressway on-ramp towards industrial buildings along North Orleans Street, 1976

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#60 East Illinois Street, from east of the intersection with North Rush Street, 1976

East Illinois Street, from east of the intersection with North Rush Street, 1976

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#61 The north side of East Ohio Street, at the intersection with North Rush Street, 1976

The north side of East Ohio Street, at the intersection with North Rush Street, 1976

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#62 A nineteenth-century house located at 42 East Superior Street, 1976

A nineteenth-century house located at 42 East Superior Street, 1976

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#63 Jackson Park station, at the end of the CTA Jackson Park line, 1977

Jackson Park station, at the end of the CTA Jackson Park line, 1977

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#65 Franklin Street towards the intersection with West Kinzie Street and the Merchandise Mart, 1978

Franklin Street towards the intersection with West Kinzie Street and the Merchandise Mart, 1978

2 Points
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#66 Standard Oil Building (now Aon Center) under construction, 1978

Standard Oil Building (now Aon Center) under construction, 1978

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#68 Adlake Building (320 West Ohio Street) located at the northeast corner of the intersection of North Orleans and West Ohio Streets, 1978

Adlake Building (320 West Ohio Street) located at the northeast corner of the intersection of North Orleans and West Ohio Streets, 1978

2 Points
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#70 Harper Court, a development project that included clusters of small businesses and artisan shops, located on South Harper Avenue between 53rd and 52nd Streets, 1978

Harper Court, a development project that included clusters of small businesses and artisan shops, located on South Harper Avenue between 53rd and 52nd Streets, 1978

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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