The stunning history of the transformation of America''s great cities.

Great American Cities Past and Present is a fascinating collection of 250 large-format photographs and commentary that illustrates the dramatic changes in America''s urban landscape over the last century. The images clearly show the remarkable development of such cities as Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, as they went from flourishing cities to vibrant metropolises of international significance.

Each left-hand page in the book shows a cityscape -- some are skylines, others are street scenes -- as it was 5, 20, 50 or even 100 years ago, and the facing page shows the same location as it looks today. Each visual comparison tells a compelling story, from economic busts and booms to waves of immigration to city planning gone wrong (or maybe right) to a total disregard for heritage architecture to the urban appetite for farmland. The book also chronicles the changes in styles of dress, consumerism, storefronts and public transit that accompanied the transformations.

Detailed captions describe changes such as:

• Technological advances that raised skylines to new heights
  
• Urban ghettoization and regeneration
  
• The casualties of fires, earthquakes and tornadoes
  
• The cultural evolution of neighborhoods
  
• The best and worst of American architecture

Maps also include locator keys that highlight features and buildings within the photographs. From skyline to street level, Great American Cities Past and Present gives readers a thought-provoking perspective on America''s cities.