Pictured here is the foot of North Michigan Avenue in 1951. While you might recognize a few of the skyscrapers, this famous Illinois street got off to a rocky start. In 1871, a huge fire swept through the city, and the Chicago Water Tower – today a historical landmark – was one of the few buildings to survive. In 1909, the ‘Chicago Plan’ was introduced to transform Michigan Avenue into a major commercial boulevard. A few years later, in 1912, the Magnificent Mile Association started promoting the development of this simple thoroughfare into a world-class destination.

Incredible photos of America's famous streets then and now