Discover the past, Experience the Present
What was here before? Slide back in time to uncover the forgotten stories behind every corner of your city.
🎉 Beta Launch - Explore Palatine's History!Ever walk past a building and wonder what used to be there? That coffee shop you love, the park where you jog, the corner store—they all have stories waiting to be discovered.
When It Was is an interactive platform that lets you travel back in time through the places you know today. Starting in Palatine, IL, and expanding nationwide, we're building a community-driven archive of local history that brings the past to life.
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.
We're looking for passionate history enthusiasts, local experts, and curious explorers to help us preserve the stories that make communities special.
As a contributor, you'll be part of something bigger—saving memories before they're lost forever and creating a resource that future generations will treasure.
Add addresses and buildings with historical significance in your area.
Record what businesses occupied locations throughout the decades.
Upload historical images showing how places looked in different eras.
Share personal memories and anecdotes about local landmarks.
All contributions are reviewed by our team to ensure accuracy and quality.
Browse any location and see its complete history. Search by address, neighborhood, or just explore what's nearby.
Slide through decades to see what businesses, landmarks, and buildings occupied any location throughout history. Watch your city transform before your eyes.
View historical photos of locations showing how they looked in different eras. Compare past and present side-by-side.
Read and share personal memories, anecdotes, and stories about local places. Preserve your family's connection to the community.
Help build the archive! Submit locations, businesses, photos, and stories. Your contributions help preserve local history for future generations.
Discover fun facts and earn achievements as you explore. Learn about your city's hidden history while having fun.
Explore history wherever you go. Perfect for walking tours, historical research, or satisfying curiosity on the spot.
Search by business name, category, time period, or location. Find exactly what you're looking for in our growing database.
Starting in Palatine, IL, with plans to expand across the entire United States. Your city could be next!
Before memories fade and old buildings disappear, we're creating a permanent digital archive of what used to be. Every business, every landmark, every story matters.
Connect with neighbors who share memories of the same places. Discover stories from longtime residents and contribute your own experiences.
Historical research shouldn't require hours in dusty archives. We're making local history easy to discover, explore, and enjoy for everyone.
What starts in Palatine will grow to cover every city and town across America. Together, we're building the most comprehensive historical location database ever created.