40+ Fascinating Examples of How Things Change Over Time

Change can happen quickly or over a period of time, slowly changing so that we barely notice what is happening before our eyes. The way people dress and talk, the bluffs along the sea shore, or the growth of a summer garden. 

Through the eyes of a child, this tree is quite magical. It was a signpost for hikers before, but now it’s grown to be so much more. It feels like Mother Nature herself has planted this thing to be a breathing reminder that we should love and take care of nature.

This plaque on the Charles Bridge has seen better days. Funnily enough, the discolored sections on this piece of art are confined solely around the dog figure.

You would be forgiven for assuming this photo is an abstract tattoo. Take a closer look! Were you able to see it? It’s not a tattoo but a round metal post with rust on its surface. The oxidized metal coil and cord converted into something spectacular – an incredible creation of nature mixed with time.

There are always rumors about what lies in the dark forest. Some say it is filled with vampires; others think there’s a castle or treasure trove hidden among its trees and rocks. This lone car in the forbidden and dark forest has been abandoned for likely decades.

We all remember the iconic Pac-Man, a small yellow circle trapped in an arcade who must eat as many dots and power pellets as he can while being chased by ghosts. Seeing this old screen brings back memories of how much fun people used to have playing it. 

These old steps bear the history of every step that was taken to the top of this magnificent structure. While the stairs might be a bit worn down, they’re still sturdy enough to walk up and enjoy the beautiful view up there.

It’s amazing how history exists deep beneath our feet, even if we don’t always realize it or notice it. It’s fascinating to see these antique artifacts of the past. 

Historical artifacts come in many forms, including books, paintings, statues, and even old clothing. This old driver’s license is another glance back into the past. 

Yes, this is indeed a piece of a brick wall. After a chunk of bricks in Ireland fell into the sea, the salty ocean water began to reshape this brick wall piece over time.

This photo of a clipboard doesn’t seem special at first, but what lies beneath is much more intriguing. A woman’s passion for solving newspaper crossword puzzles has resulted in thousands of words remaining on this clipboard.

The Stanley thermos on the left is surely an old friend. The person who used it faithfully for decades deserves all the respect in the world for their commitment to the mug that would keep their coffee warm every morning before college and work.

This pup loves nothing more than sticking his head out the car window on long rides and taking in the glorious breeze. By the looks of this image it seems as though this dog has been assuming this same enjoyable position all of his life.

Your mouth may have watered when you saw this colorful rainbow candy. The drips look like gummy worms, but if this was sweet and delicious, we doubt it would have been left to accumulate on a bench like that.

This fascinating image resembles that of a tree stump. The interesting thing about tree stumps is that they reveal a tree’s age as each individual ring represents a year of time.

You might think this sign is just an attempt at scaring people, but that’s not the case. The imposing warning is not enough for these trespassers who are lured by their curiosity and want to see what’s beyond the sketchy signs.

This is what happens if you leave one of your slides in an extremely hot situation for too long. The once-cushy slipper lost its comfort thanks to extended exposure to the sun.

This piano was sitting in the corner of a room, dusty and untouched. The only thing on it that showed some signs of wear were finger impressions on the keys. It looks like no one has played this instrument for years, but back in its heyday, it was one popular instrument.

For the past 20 years, this person’s old shift knob has been hiding a new life underneath. It was such a sad moment when they realized that it had finally reached its demise. However, when they retired it, they found an incredible surprise underneath.

Skateboards are a fun form of transportation for many people, and they provide the opportunity to express themselves creatively. What if you could have a design that changes over time? It has been made possible with this deck!

If you are looking for a footrest that will last forever, look no further – this one is made of bricks. This bar’s footrest is decades old, and the worn texture of the aged bricks speaks volumes about the hardiness the material possesses.

Salty water can create wondrous things. The rusted pieces of metal in the photos might look like they belong on a boat, but they’re actually part of a fence near the shore. When there’s rough weather the seawater washes up, flowing through the pickets of this fence.

It’s incredible how much dust can collect on windowsills that haven’t been cleaned in decades. The dust and grime that accumulate on the surfaces of a home dull its shine. As you can see from the image below, a dirty house looks old and unpleasant due to how much detail is lost amidst all the dirt.

What is the mystery behind this concrete floor that wants to be a natural creek bed? It seems that whoever laid the concrete decided to fill it with stones to make the job economical. As the water from the drain slowly eroded the surface over time, a beautiful pattern was revealed.

As a student, this person can’t imagine the horror of not having enough pens. Every pen enthusiast needs a reliable fountain pen to carry with them at all times. Every single pen in this collection has an impressive history and has its own unique story behind it.

This building’s facade is slowly transforming into the head of a lion. At first glance, it may take you a while to see this, but once you do, you’ll see how amazing it is! The way the rain has washed away some of the white paint reveals something else.

This floor has seen generations of customers come and go. The old, tattered brown tiles are still intact. It was freshly vacuumed every week by a diligent owner who loved his job, despite how monotonous it became over time.

The interesting part about this photograph is how a collection spanning decades could be so loyal to the same brand. The owner of these hats has clearly been a loyal fan of Menard for decades.

Cats have a lot on their minds: grooming fur, sleeping 22 hours per day – who needs anything else? Well, there is one exception. When they’re not being lazy in the sun or chasing mice, cats love nothing more than scratching furniture!

This old coil waited over 60 years for the perfect moment to be discovered. It was such an amazing surprise, and though it has certainly seen better days, its worn-out surface is evidence of all the adventures it went on.

This door has been opened and closed by different generations for over 50 years. Despite the banging, the door stands sturdy as steel and stunning in red. Every time someone walks through this door, they will be reminded of the history of the place.

Hundreds of people have entered this barbershop over the years, looking for a haircut or shave. It has been around for decades and is one of those landmarks that you can’t miss as you walk down the street. To this day, the barbershop is still one of the most iconic places in its neighborhood.

Sea air can be a good thing or a bad thing. When the breeze is gentle, it’s one of life’s most pleasant experiences, but when the wind picks up to gale-force speeds, things get ugly, like this knob in the photo!

When you were a kid, did your teddy bear always have to be the first one on the bed? Did it ever go missing, only to show back up again when least expected? Sometimes, it feels as though they have lives of their own.

Back-and-forth movement over short distances caused this stainless steel bolt to look like an hourglass. You never know what might happen when vibration gets to play freely. This force of nature can have incredible effects over time.

Many families decorate their houses with pumpkins that aren’t quite big enough for carving yet. As you can see from the picture below, even carved pumpkins are affected by the endless procession of time.

In this photo is the ID tag of a 13-year old family dog. It’s still in wonderful shape. However, you can see that it lived an active life. Though this tag is old, its puppy-dog owner is still alive and faithfully serving his family.

It is not uncommon for dogs to run around in circles.  This doggy has been circling this swimming pool for years, running laps of its own personal Olympic stadium.

You may not realize it, but knives get dull with time. This lovely photo of an old blade that has been sharpened for 41 years emphasizes the importance of maintaining your blades in order for them to perform at their best.

There are many ways to make something look beautiful, whether for this moment or forever. You can see how nature has taken over this old chain that was once used as a decoration long ago. Nature is truly amazing.

This rug has mastered the art of stealth. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is blend in. This rug in Tallinn blends in with the floor so perfectly that few people notice it until it’s pointed out to them.

Dogs are said to be the best companions a person could have. The markings on this puppy have gradually faded over nearly ten years. Its face markings have faded to the point that they are no longer visible! However, that sweet expression hasn’t changed a bit.

This museum has a donkey for you to pet! You’ll have the chance to feel and see what happens when people are allowed to touch a work of art.  The donkey sculpture was specifically bought for people who visit this art exhibit.

Water has been falling on the same spot for centuries, creating these terrific grooves. This slab that’s been blasted by rain for decades, and its resilience shows. 

It’s refreshing to see that some places preserve their dishes, even when they’re not perfect anymore. After years of spoons being rested against its rim (and dare we say, perhaps a few bumps and falls), this bowl has seen better days. But its chips and grooves give it character.

While we’ve seen our face share of trees versus signs in this article, it’s also interesting to see the indents imprinted onto this cool tree.

Not all of us are in tune with what their car needs and when it needs it. That is where these helpful tires come into play!

This comparison of the two bears is very cute and shows how much the teddy bear on the left was loved and adored.

This is one of the prettiest staircases that we’ve ever seen! Located in a national park in Turkey, it sure is appealing to the eye.

Yet another sign-hungry tree munching down on the colored metal. This looks like a sign at someone’s home that got left behind.

This insane amount of posters stacked on top of each other does make one wonder. Why did no one ever take them down? How old is the very first poster on the pole?

Get it? This sign is “metal,” in that it is made out of metal and that the lettering looks like the flier of a metal poster.

Over the passage of time this keypad has finally revealed its secrets. It would not take too many codes to figure out how to break into the home that this keypad has been tasked with harboring.

One side of this doorknob has been exposed to the elements while the other side has not, and boy can you see the difference!

This door has suffered the wearing down of a doorbell, which has chipped the paint and warped the wood. Hopefully it doesn’t affect the temperatures on the store’s colder days.

This artistic addition that was put upon the fence is a cute doberman who has been changed by the elements, which actually gives it a more realistic look of the dog type!

It seems there is a general consensus when it comes to whether or not people want a carwash, and it is that they do not.

This amusement park has seen its fair share of wear and tear from all of the visitors coming through to visit.