19 Photos That Show How Much Time Changes Things
Curiosities
12/22/2019

Time is powerful and merciless. It leaves its footprint on everything it touches, no matter what it is, whether it be a huge staircase or a leather wallet. Most of the time, such changes happen slowly which is why we don’t notice them. But some Internet users managed to see these changes and shared their photos with the rest of the world.
1. St. Peter’s foot at the Vatican after centuries of being touched by pilgrims
2. “My dad bought these wallets 25 years ago and just switched to the second for Christmas.”
3. $100 in circulated $1 bills vs a brand new stack
4. “A knife used by my great-grandfather, then my grandmother, then her daughters”
5. “I present to you: a manhole cover on a sidewalk in New York City!”
6. A sunken lane in France — for centuries, it was used for thousands of trips by merchants and soldiers.
7. “I got both of these hats the same day. The one on the left was worn almost daily. The one on the right is unworn.”
8. Worn stairs — Petra, Jordan
9. The Queen’s guard’s boots after a year of public duties at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Tower of London, Windsor Castle, and more
10. “My 18-year-old headlight assembly compared to a new one”
11. This lawn turned into a road over time.
12. “My father has carried this in his pocket every day for over 60 years.”
13. “My brother and I each received identical teddy bears when we were born. I used mine just a bit more...”
14. “Bought those Birkenstocks 17 years ago. The left pair was not worn at all.”
15. The floor at a hairdresser’s shop
16. Same brush head, 20 years apart
17. “I’ve been wearing this Dickies belt almost daily for over a decade. The left one is brand new.”
18. This step in Gloucester Cathedral
19. A root on the trail up to a waterfall in Thailand — obviously, people step on the same spot.
Please note: This article was updated in February 2023 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.
Preview photo credit standardnameline / reddit
Comments
Get notifications
He was able to wear Birkenstocks for 17 years? What an amazing quality!
Reply
Related Reads
19 Popular Things From the ’90s That Are Hard to Find Today

Curiosities
05/26/2020
12 Moments When Kindness and Empathy Brought People Together in Most Unexpected Ways

People
05/23/2026
12 Heartwarming Animal Stories That Show Kindness Exists Beyond Humans

Animals
05/26/2026
12 Real Acts of Wisdom That Teach Us Why Forgiveness Still Brings Peace to Lonely Hearts in 2026

People
06/24/2026
12 Nostalgic Moments That Prove Kind Hearts Built a Warmer World

People
05/25/2026
15 Moments That Prove Kids’ Innocent Hearts Are Overflowing With Kindness Even When the World Around Them Isn’t

People
06/21/2026
12 Moments That Teach Us to Keep Kindness and Compassion, Even When Life Plays Unfair

People
05/24/2026
10 Home Renovation Stories That Prove Family Drama Can Hide Behind Any Wall

Home
05/26/2026
12 Moments That Prove Quiet Family Love Still Costs Everything Even When Nobody Sees It

Family & kids
05/16/2026
12 Stories of Animals Showing Love and Empathy Beyond Boundaries

Animals
06/02/2026
10 Moments of Pure Mercy That Remind Us the World Is Still Full of Kind Hearts

People
05/19/2026
10 Moments That Teach Us Compassion and Wisdom Keep Families Together

People
06/02/2026


















