Recapturing Ann Arbor: Then & Now Images by Rick Cocco

Rick Cocco's then-and-now compositions offer a unique look at our city's ever-changing landscape over the past one hundred years. Between 2018 and 2021, Cocco carefully composed his "now" photographs to match their historical counterparts, largely drawn from AADL's online collection of Ann Arbor News negatives. This online exhibit features some of our favorite compilations from Cocco's collection. (A corresponding physical exhibit will be on display in the second-floor exhibit space at the Downtown Library from January 16 - March 15, 2024.)

See many more of Rick's then and now compositions at: aadl.org/rickcocco 

“As an Ann Arbor native, I have always had a love for the city, past and present. I especially enjoy searching for old photographs and stories online. I thought it would be cool to take a matching photo of an old familiar town landmark. What started out as taking pictures of a few buildings and street scenes turned into a three-year project of researching the histories behind the buildings, doing the legwork to take the shots, and photo-editing to match the ‘then’ and ‘now’ pictures.”

 ~ Rick Cocco

Washtenaw Farm Bureau, 1950, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / Kerrytown Shops, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Railroad crossing at First and Liberty Streets, 1941, Photograph attributed to Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / Intersection of First and Liberty Streets, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Adult Book Stores, October 1972, Photographer Jack Stubbs, Ann Arbor News / 215-217 Fourth Avenue shops, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Ann Arbor YMCA, October 1940, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / Washtenaw County Annex Building, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Stanger Furniture, 1940, Photographer attributed to Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / Ann Arbor Art Center, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

South Main Street, Looking North, December 1965, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / South Main Street, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

King Koin Launderette, April 1959, Photographer Doug Fulton, Ann Arbor News / Main Street Party Store, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Roger Holcomb performs safety duty patrol at Fritz School, December 1951, Photographer unknown, Ann Arbor News / Washtenaw Alano Club, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Ann Arbor Depot House, 1974, Photographer Robert Chase, Ann Arbor News / Doughty Montessori School, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Ann Arbor News Building, June 1949, Photographer unknown, Ann Arbor News / University of Michigan Credit Union, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

100 Block of West Huron, March 1960, Photographer Doug Fulton, Ann Arbor News / 100 Block of West Huron, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Ann Arbor Radio Cab Company and Englehart's Service, November 1951, Photographer unknown, Ann Arbor News / Detroit Filling Station, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Main Street, December 1965, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / Main Street, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Del Rio Bar, 1973, Photographer unknown, Ann Arbor News / Grizzly Peak, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Casey's Gas Station, December 1957, Photographer Doug Fulton, Ann Arbor News / 104 N Fourth Ave, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

ROTC Return as Inducted Soldiers, March 1943, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / Gandy Dancer restaurant, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Former Earle Hote, 1973, Photographer unknown, Ann Arbor News / Sweetwaters Cafe, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Firestone Service Station, July 1946, Photographer unknown, Ann Arbor News / Firestone Complete Auto Care, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Corner of Main and Huron Streets, October 1957, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / Main and Huron Streets, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Ann Arbor Co-op Building at Main and Mosley Streets, July 1957, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / 637 S Main Street, Photographer Rick Cocco, c. 2020

Mallis Coffee Cup, December 1962, Photographer Duane Scheel, Ann Arbor News / Cloverleaf Restuarant, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Quality Bakery, June 1955, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / Palio Ann Arbor, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Gratton Drug Store, c. 1930, Photographer unknown, Ann Arbor News / Campus Party Store, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

State Theatre Grand Opening, March 1942, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / State Theatre, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Wolverine Cafeteria, March 1944, Photographer Eck Stanger, Ann Arbor News / CVS Pharmacy, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Old Town, Mr. Flood's Party, and Leo Ping's, October 1975, Photographer Jack Stubbs, Ann Arbor News / Old Town, West End Grill, and Grange Kitchen and Bar, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco

Fourth Avenue and Washington Streets, October 1952, Photographer unknown, Ann Arbor News / Fourth Avenue and Washington Streets, c. 2020, Photographer Rick Cocco