Here's some wild news for all of those Times Square-loving New Yorkers out there (if there are any, that is)... 

Times Square wasn't always packed to the seams with flashing advertisements, chain restaurants, and characters in furry costumes. 

Once upon a time, Times Square looked very different than it does today. Don't believe us? Seriously, it used to have cobblestones, open space, and, yes, advertisements. 

But while the Times Square advertisements of yesteryear were lit up, they were also so much more relaxed than Times Square's contemporary frenzy. 

Did you know crowds of people packed into Times Square to celebrate the Japanese surrendering World War II? 

Or how about that crowds of people also packed into Times Square to protest gay rights way back in 1969? Ironic how far we have come as a society, amirite? 

Now take a look at these video below from Joey Salim, and see what Times Square used to look like in the past-- way before any of us ever went there.

Check out This Throwback Video of Times Square from 1992. 

[Feature Image Courtesy Untapped Cities]