in Places & People

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

8.4k Views 15 Comments

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
Upvote Downvote

#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

7 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

7 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

7 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

6 Points
Upvote Downvote

#6 South Commercial Avenue and Immaculate Conception Church, 1972

South Commercial Avenue and Immaculate Conception Church, 1972

6 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

6 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

Gino's East pizzeria sign and parking lot, 1976

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

Auditorium building and Congress Hotel along Michigan Avenue, 1972

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

Hanley Dawson Cadillac and Lawry's restaurant, 1976

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

Residential neighborhood at North Halsted and Blackhawk Streets, 1976

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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
Upvote Downvote

#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
Upvote Downvote

#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

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

Chicago Fire Department station, West Illinois Street, 1978

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

North Paulina Street just north of Howard Street, 1975

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

East Ohio Street between Rush Street and Michigan Avenue, 1976

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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
Upvote Downvote

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

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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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
Upvote Downvote

#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

1 Point
Upvote Downvote
Avatar of Aung Budhh

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

15 Comments

Load more comments