Chicago is a city that through history has triumphed over nature and disaster. It has bounced back from a calamitous fire, re-engineered the flow of the Chicago River, and challenged gravity with a series of pioneering skyscrapers. Chicago Then and Now pairs archival photos with modern views to tell the story of the city's rich history.

All the key historic locations are featured, such as the Navy Pier and the Biograph Theater where gangster John Dillinger was gunned down. There are the old ballparks (Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park), the classic skyscrapers (Rookery Building and Old Colony Building), the vestiges of the famous 1893 World Fair (Museum of Science and Industry), survivors of the 1871 Great Fire (Water Tower), the grand railroad stations (Dearborn), the many bridges (State Street), stores (Marshall Field), and unique architecture (Frank Lloyd Wright home).