What did the Colosseum, Grand Canyon or Taj Mahal look like before they became icons of global travel? Step back in time with this fascinating collection of vintage photos from the late 1800s to the 1990s, to see how these legendary landmarks appeared before they became the tourist hotspots we know today.
Click through the gallery to discover incredible historic images of the world's most popular tourist attractions...
The first national park in the United States, Yellowstone was established in 1872 and spans a vast region in northwestern Wyoming, with portions extending into Montana and Idaho. The Hayden Geological Survey of 1871 (pictured) was instrumental in convincing Congress to protect the area as a national park.
Tourists began to visit by rail or horse and carriage from the late 1800s, although it wasn’t until cars were allowed in 1915 that tourism really spiked. For thousands of years, Yellowstone has been a cultural and spiritual home to Indigenous peoples, and today, 27 federally recognised tribes have historical and cultural ties to the area.
This iconic statue didn’t begin its journey in New York. It was first showcased at the Paris World’s Fair in 1878 (pictured) before being gifted to the United States by France in 1886 as a symbol of their alliance during the American Revolution.
Just a few decades later, the towering figure on Liberty Island had cemented its status as one of New York’s – and the world’s – most beloved landmarks.
This 4,500-year-old statue is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, situated on the Giza Plateau on the western bank of the Nile in Egypt. A mythological creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human, the Sphinx was buried up to its shoulders in sand for centuries.
Attempts to clear the sand began as early as the 19th century, but the Sphinx wasn’t fully uncovered until the 1920s and 1930s, thanks to extensive archaeological excavations. Pictured here in 1882, following the Battle of Tel-El-Kebir, British troops can be seen surrounding the partially buried statue, its body still largely hidden beneath the desert sands.
The most recognisable feature of the Paris skyline was completed in time for the Paris World’s Fair of 1889 – although it was only supposed to be a temporary structure.
Its original licensing rights were only set to last 20 years and it was almost torn down in 1909, but city officials voted to keep it after recognising its value as a radio station. Pictured here in 1889, today the Eiffel Tower attracts millions of visitors each year.
The Giza Pyramids are the last surviving Ancient Wonders of the World, constructed during Egypt's Fourth Dynasty, between 2575 and 2465 BC. The three pyramids were built for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, with the Great Pyramid of Khufu originally standing at 481 feet (147m), making it the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years.
Visitor numbers to the site surged significantly following Egypt’s push to boost tourism in the 1970s, and millions now visit every year. This photograph, taken in 1890, offers a glimpse of the Pyramids before the modern era of mass tourism.
With its striking multicoloured spires and intricate patterns, St Basil’s Cathedral was built to commemorate Ivan the Terrible's victory over the Tatar stronghold of Kazan. Completed in 1561, it has stood as a powerful symbol of Russia’s history and identity ever since.
Pictured here in 1890, the cathedral only began to gain traction as a tourist attraction in the 20th century. In 1931, the Soviet state-controlled travel agency Intourist launched a poster competition to promote tourism in the USSR. One of these posters featured the grand cathedral as a highlight of Moscow, helping to position it as an iconic destination for international visitors.
When Central Park officially opened in 1876 it was an instant hit with New Yorkers, with activities including gondolier trips on the lake (pictured), carriage rides and model yacht racing favoured by early visitors.
The 840-acre park in the middle of Manhattan is one of the world’s top attractions today and receives more than 42 million visitors each year.
Shown here during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897, Buckingham Palace is one of the UK’s most famous landmarks and has served as an official residence of the Royal Family since 1837, remaining the administrative headquarters of the King today.
The palace, which has 775 rooms and is set among 39 acres of grounds, has held public tours every summer since 1993. Another popular event with visitors is the daily Changing of the Guards Ceremony outside the palace gates.
The Acropolis in Athens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as one of the world’s most iconic archaeological marvels. Perched atop a limestone hill overlooking the city, this ancient citadel has been inhabited since prehistoric times, serving as a cradle of Greek civilisation and history.
Pictured here in 1897 is the striking Erechtheion Temple, built between 421 and 406 BC. Known for its elegant design and the famous Caryatids – stone maidens that support its southern porch – it remains a symbol of ancient artistry, and a timeless connection to Athens’ golden age.
Carved into red, pink and blue sandstone among winding desert canyons, The Treasury (Al Khazneh) is part of the ‘Lost City’ of Petra.
This prehistoric settlement was once the capital of the Nabataean Empire, which controlled a vast swathe of the Middle East before being absorbed by the Roman Empire. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and since then tourism has been on the rise.
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Perched on a hill overlooking Granada, the Alhambra is a stunning palace and fortress complex that dates back to the 13th century. Originally built during Spain’s Islamic period, it showcases exquisite Moorish architecture, with intricately carved stucco, geometric tilework and tranquil courtyards – such as The Patio of the Lions, pictured here circa 1900.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alhambra is one of Spain’s most visited landmarks, attracting millions each year. Visitors come to marvel at the intricate craftsmanship of its palaces, wander the lush Generalife gardens and soak in breathtaking views of Granada and the Sierra Nevada mountains.
A picturesque monastery sitting atop a small island off the coast of Normandy, Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most visited landmarks in France.
Built in the 8th century, it was a popular attraction from the get-go, drawing a vast number of pilgrims from across Europe who were desperate to see the magnificent structure. Pictured here circa 1900, two fishermen can be seen on the tidal flats in the foreground.
The Forbidden City, an imperial palace complex surrounded by 2.17 miles (3.5km) of citadel walls, stands at the heart of Beijing as a symbol of China’s rich history. Built between 1406 and 1420 under the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty, this UNESCO World Heritage Site served as the home of 24 Chinese emperors and the centre of imperial power for 500 years.
This 1908 photograph captures the Forbidden City during its final years as a functioning palace. Just a few years later, the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911 marked the end of its role as the seat of government, transitioning it into the historical and cultural treasure we know today.
Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market was created in 1907 to meet the city’s demand for fresh food, by inviting farmers to bring their wagons and sell directly to the public.
Pictured here in 1910, the market is a far cry from the tourist-thronged site of today, where craft stalls, indie boutiques and hip foodie spots sit alongside the traditional fruit and veg stalls.
The temple complex of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia is said to be the world’s largest religious structure, covering 400 acres and comprising more than a thousand buildings.
Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, the city of Angkor was a centre of power for the Khmer dynasty which was one of the largest and most powerful in Southeast Asia. While it no longer serves as a temple today, it’s Cambodia’s most popular tourist attraction.
A glacier-topped volcano that peaks at well over 14,000 feet (4,267m), Mount Rainier National Park is a popular spot for hikers and nature-lovers.
The Paradise region, pictured here being scaled by a group of climbers in 1915, is one of the most visited spots in the park, known for its blossom-filled meadows and its incredible opportunities for winter sports.
Construction on the Egyptian-style obelisk of Washington Monument began in 1848 – when the first cornerstone was laid in the presence of Abraham Lincoln – and was finally completed in 1888. The National Mall’s tallest structure at 555 feet (169m) high, it has been a popular gathering spot for more than a century.
It's pictured here in 1917 at an event to commemorate the American Civil War, when a large crowd formed a human US flag on the ground holding cardboard stars to represent the states.
You might be surprised to learn that the Hollywood sign that towers above Los Angeles once read 'Hollywoodland', as shown in this image from 1925.
However, in 1949, it was decided that the sign – which was originally built as a temporary advertisement for a housing development – should drop the 'land', in order to refer to the whole area. Now, the famous backdrop is captured on many tourists' cameras.
The Brandenburg Gate has been a symbol of Germany’s history and resilience since its completion in 1791. Designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans, it originally served as the grand entrance to the Prussian capital.
Over the years, it has witnessed major historical events, from Napoleon’s march through Berlin to its role as a stark dividing line during the Cold War when it stood near the Berlin Wall. Today, it is one of Germany’s most visited landmarks, drawing millions of people each year to its imposing columns.
Atlantic City Boardwalk has been a popular attraction ever since it was constructed in the 1870s, as well as attracting more people to Atlantic City beach, pictured here filled with sun-seekers in the Roaring Twenties.
It's thought to be the first boardwalk of its kind in the United States, and has been lined with luxurious hotels, eclectic stores and restaurants since its earliest beginnings.
Cedar Point is one of the oldest theme parks in America and has been welcoming thrill-seekers through its gates for 150 years. The first roller coaster Switchback Railway debuted here in 1892, a couple of decades after the park opened.
As you can see from this shot taken in the 1920s, it quickly became a busy and popular destination as more and more rides and attractions were added.
This striking photograph from the 1920s shows a group of men taking part in an outdoor exercise class next to the Arc de Triomphe – an activity you might have difficulty with during peak season nowadays.
The iconic arch was commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806, intended to celebrate the victories of the French army in the Battle of Austerlitz (1805) and it took 30 years to build.
The Times Square of the 1920s is a far cry from the flashing lights and billboards of the Times Square we know today. Originally known as Longacre Square, in the 1880s it comprised a large open space surrounded by apartments, but shortly after electricity arrived in the area, streetlights and theatre signs sprung up.
It was renamed to Times Square in April 1904, after the New York Times, which was set to relocate its headquarters there in January 1905.
Pictured here under construction in 1931, New York’s Empire State Building took just one year and 45 days to build. It was the tallest building in the world until the 1970s, when it was replaced by the World Trade Center.
Today, more than four million visitors take the trip up to the Empire State Building’s 86th and 102nd floor observatories each year, to gaze at the city’s views from up high.
The red-orange Golden Gate Bridge has spanned its namesake strait since 1937, and at the time it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world.
Pictured here on 24 May 1937, a few days before its official opening date, a small number of journalists were allowed to cross the bridge. Today, the bridge is crossed by over 110,000 vehicles per day.
Jemaa el-Fna is a vibrant and bustling marketplace in Marrakech’s medina quarter, known today for its street performers, food stalls, snake charmers and a nightly carnival. The square dates right back to 1062, when Marrakech was founded, and since then it has served as an important public space at the heart of the city.
Pictured here in the 1930s, dotted with informal market traders and passers-by, it’s quite a contrast from today’s vast network of covered stalls.
Snapped during World War II, this picture shows the iconic Big Ben clock tower and adjoining Houses of Parliament seen from Westminster Bridge, with military vehicles and a vintage tram crossing the river and barrage balloons in the sky.
Construction of the clock tower began in 1843 and today the building stands at 315 feet (96m) tall. While it would have been virtually deserted during the war, today one of London’s greatest landmarks receives around 4.5 million visitors per year.
The monument to four presidents of America – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln – was carved into the rock in South Dakota’s Black Hills region between 1927 and 1941.
Pictured here during construction in 1940 is the profile of Jefferson and the outline of Washington in the distance, as seen from the top of Lincoln's head. Today, Mount Rushmore is a popular landmark usually receiving more than two million visitors a year.
Check out the hidden secrets of this and other American tourist attractions here
A large stone amphitheatre built in AD 70-72, Rome's Colosseum was created to host gladiatorial combats and other forms of public entertainment.
The city became popular with tourists in the mid-1800s, although political upheaval led to a decline in tourism in the 1870s that lasted until the end of World War II. Looking quiet in this shot from 1944, it wasn’t until the 1950s that tourism picked up again, thanks in part to popular movies including Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita, which were filmed in the city.
A buzzing amusement park complex located in New York City’s borough of Brooklyn, Coney Island has been a thrill-seeker’s paradise for more than 120 years.
Steeplechase Park, Luna Park and Dreamland were its first parks, opening in 1897, 1903 and 1904 respectively, although Luna Park was destroyed by a fire in 1944.
Weeki Wachee is one of the deepest natural springs in the US, but the attraction has become most well-known for its popular mermaid shows which have taken place since the 1940s. These involve real-life 'mermaids' swimming up to 16 feet (5m) below the surface to perform impressive synchronized dances.
Pictured here in 1949 are some mermaids cooling off at the dock between shows. Today, the site has grown to include a water park, riverboat rides and casual restaurants.
Designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, the Sagrada Família cathedral in the heart of Barcelona is an architectural feat of epic proportions. Construction began in 1882, yet by 1926, the time of Gaudí’s death, only a quarter of it was completed.
Building works halted due to the Spanish Civil War and started again in the 1950s. Even today, it’s still not finished, although the current team of architects claim it will be completed by 2026. The epic Neoclassical cathedral is pictured here in the 1940s.
With its vast network of ravines carved into colourful rock, the Grand Canyon is one of the largest and most magnificent canyons on Earth. It's been a US National Park for more than 100 years, celebrating its centenary in 2019.
The enormous canyon plunges to around 6,000 feet (1,829m) at its deepest point, and is peppered with scenic viewpoints including the famous glass Skywalk at the West Rim and Mather Point in the south. Pictured here is a couple visiting in the 1940s.
One of America’s oldest and most famous social spots, plans were laid for Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter in 1721 by engineer Adrien de Pauger, who named it after the ruling French royal family at the time.
The landmark Old Absinthe House (pictured on the left) was constructed in around 1806, shown here in 1953, before the ever-popular street was transformed into the neon-lined hub we know today.
The tallest mountain on the planet has fascinated people for millennia, but its summit wasn’t successfully reached until 1953, when New Zealand explorer Edmund Hillary and Nepali sherpa Tenzing Norgay officially scaled the peak. Shown here in 1955, a climber gazes out at Mount Everest from one of the surrounding paths.
However, overcrowding of the path towards the summit in recent years, fuelled in part by cut-price expeditions from Nepali trekking companies, has led to growing concerns about safety. The 2023 season was the deadliest on record, with 17 fatalities.
A well-preserved citadel dating back to the Inca Empire which ruled over western South America in the 15th and 16th centuries, Machu Picchu is located around 50 miles (80km) northwest of Cuzco, between the peaks of its namesake and Huayna Picchu.
It became well-known to the Western world when American archaeologist Hiram Bingham and his team began digging there in 1911, after which Bingham published a book, The Lost City of the Incas, which led tourists to flock to the Inca Trail.
This beautiful church in the Vatican City was built between 1506 and 1626, and today it serves as the universal headquarters of the Catholic Church as well as being the Pope’s residence.
With features including an impressive dome at the centre, which was partially designed by Michelangelo, a large bronze baldachin above the altar designed by Bernini and a statue of St Peter on his throne, there’s plenty to see inside the vast church. Pictured here is a coachload of tourists visiting the Basilica, circa 1955.
One of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain in southern England was built around 5,000 years ago in the Mesolithic Period. It consists of large sarsen stones, sourced from nearby, and smaller 'bluestones' which – intriguingly – have been traced to Preseli Hills in Wales, around 200 miles (322km) from Stonehenge.
In 1986, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site which helped put it on the map as a tourist destination. Pictured here on Summer Solstice 1956, Druids carry out the Dawn Ceremony to mark the longest day of the year.
An iconic piece of Rio de Janeiro’s skyline, the 98-foot-tall (30m) Christ the Redeemer monument standing on the summit of Mount Corcovado is the largest Art Deco-style statue in the world.
You might be surprised to learn that the landmark had been more than 70 years in the making when construction finally began in 1922 – the idea was first suggested in the mid-1850s.
This horn-shaped mountain in the Swiss Alps, six miles (10km) southwest of Zermatt, gained global recognition when its summit was first conquered by British explorer Edward Whymper on 14 July 1865. Tragically, however, four of his party fell to their deaths on the way down.
In 1871, Whymper published a book about his experience climbing the mountain, Scrambles Among the Alps, which became a global bestseller and sent tourists flocking to the Matterhorn. Pictured here are holidaymakers on a viewpoint on the Italian side of the mountain in the 1950s.
The Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, originally intended as a memorial for his wife.
Located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India, the impressive building combines Indian, Persian and Islamic architectural influences and is one of India’s most popular attractions, visited by up to eight million people each year. Pictured here is a much quieter Taj Mahal in 1960.
The uniquely shaped Space Needle in Seattle opened on 21 April 1962, as part of the World's Fair.
Offering panoramic views over the city from three viewpoints, one of which contains a revolving glass floor, its summit takes just 43 seconds to reach by lift – despite being 520 feet (158m) off the ground. Pictured here in 1962, tourists dare to look down.
St. Louis’ famous Gateway Arch was built between 1963 and 1965 and was created to symbolise the movement of settlers towards the American west, a concept pioneered by Thomas Jefferson.
Pictured here towards the end of its construction in 1965, the arch’s final keystone is thought to contain a time capsule filled with letters written by more than 760,000 local people.
It’s a little-known fact that the Leaning Tower of Pisa, located in the city of Pisa in Tuscany, central Italy, is actually decreasing its tilt ever so slightly each year thanks to restoration works in the 1990s to stabilise its foundations.
Pictured here in the 1960s, researchers from the Pisa University Geodesic and Topography Institute carry out an annual measurement to check on the tower’s tilt.
Disneyland (renamed Disneyland Park in the 1990s) opened on 17 July 1955 and the Sleeping Beauty Castle, which is modelled on Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany, is its most recognisable attraction.
It’s been popular since the get-go, receiving 28,000 people on its opening day – some were so desperate to get in that they jumped the fence. This picture shows its popularity continued well into the 1960s, as tourists surround the fairytale fortress, and it's no different today.
Sydney Opera House has been an iconic feature of the Sydney waterfront since it opened in 1973, housing some of the world’s leading artists and performances over the years.
The building was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who resigned from the job and left Australia halfway through its construction due to circumstances involving the Minister for Public Works, Davis Hughes. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973 – the building is shown here on its opening day.
The CN Tower, an iconic symbol of Toronto’s skyline, was completed in 1975 and held the title of the world’s tallest freestanding structure until 2009. Soaring 1,815 feet (553m) into the sky, it was initially built as a telecommunications hub to improve TV and radio signals across the region.
Today, its sleek design and incredible height make it one of the most recognisable landmarks in Canada and a world-class tourist attraction, drawing over two million visitors annually. Here, the tower is pictured in 1975, before it officially opened to the public a year later.
It turns out overcrowding at the Great Wall of China is nothing new – if this photograph from the 1970s is anything to go by. The landmark, which has an official length of 13,170 miles (21,196km), was mainly built during the Ming dynasty, which lasted between 1368 and 1644.
In 2019, the most popular section of the Great Wall, Badaling, instituted a cap of 65,000 visitors per day to prevent overcrowding. All in all, the wall receives an average of more than 10 million visitors per year.
Walt Disney World in Florida opened on 1 October 1971 and greeted 10,000 eager fans on its first day. Initially, the resort was made up of six individually themed lands: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square and Tomorrowland.
In 1982, Epcot (pictured here under construction) opened, and its name initially stood for 'Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow'. Walt Disney World attracts more than 55 million people a year, making it the most visited holiday resort in the world.
The Louvre Museum in Paris was originally built as a fortress in 1190, before being reconstructed in the 1600s so it could serve as a palace.
It was opened as a museum in 1793 but had to close just three years later due to structural issues, before being reopened by Napoleon in 1801 as the Musee Napoleon. It was renamed the Louvre in 1815. The pyramid, pictured under construction in 1987, was completed in 1989, quickly becoming a symbol of the museum.
Disneyland Paris – initially called Euro Disney – opened on 12 April 1992 and is pictured here during the press preview the day before. The resort had a rocky first few years, struggling with losses and failing to attract as many visitors as its American counterparts.
Yet thanks to advertising campaigns in the early 2000s, by 2005 Disneyland Paris had turned its fortunes around and become the number one tourist destination in Europe, selling more tickets than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.