Travel Back in Time Through Your Hometown
Ever walk past a building and wonder what used to be there? When It Was has the answer. Click any location to instantly see every business that's occupied that spot throughout history.
Our interactive map covers nearly 500 cities and towns with 3,200+ historic businesses, 700+ photos, and sourced stories. Explore Chicago's lost restaurants, Las Vegas's demolished casinos, haunted landmarks, true crime sites, and more. Slide the timeline from the 1850s to today and watch history unfold.
Recently added
All places →Blumen Gardens
A dilapidated factory from the 1860s became a garden center when Joan and Joel Barczak purchased the property in 1993 and transformed the industrial ruins into one of Northern Illinois' premier wedding venues.
60179 Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates, ILPoplar Creek Music Theater
A 25,000-capacity amphitheater hidden behind berms built to placate Barrington.
5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, ILNow Arena
Renamed for a vitamin company after Sears could no longer pay.
201 South Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg, ILVolkening Heritage Farm
A free living-history farm where the calendar is stuck in the 1880s.
Schaumburg, ILTown Square Clock Tower / Veterans Gateway Park
A clock tower marks the spot of two fires and a hardware store.
3000 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows, ILRolling Meadows Shopping Center
The town's original one-stop shopping strip on Kirchoff Road.
Featured Collection: Al Capone's Chicago
Prohibition Era Locations (1919-1933)
Explore 38 historic locations tied to Al Capone during the Prohibition era. From his headquarters at the Lexington Hotel to the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre site, discover the places that defined Chicago's gangster era.
Visiting a New City?
Explore curated travel guides with haunted landmarks, legendary restaurants, Civil War battlefields, and hidden speakeasies across 27 cities.
Open the Travel Guide →Is your address on the map?
Search your street, your old house or the corner you grew up on. If we have nothing there yet, tap Research what was here and help add its history.
Know a place we're missing? Become a contributor · How contributing works · All submissions are reviewed.