UpFront with NGS: What Was There

28 October 2011

What Was There

WhatWasThere ties historical photos to Google Maps, allowing you to tour familiar streets to see how they appeared in the past.

“The premise is simple: provide a platform where anyone can easily upload a photograph with two straightforward tags to provide context: Location and Year. If enough people upload enough photographs in enough places, together we will weave together a photographic history of the world (or at least any place covered by Google Maps). So wherever you are in the world, take a moment to upload a photograph and contribute to history!

If you have a question or want to find out more about this project, contact us at [email protected].”

Visit the site -- you can explore the photos already posted or upload photos. When you click to explore, you are take to Google map of the

with a number provided for each state indicating how many photos have been uploaded. Click on any state and you will then be taken to a close-up map of the state and nearby with numbers indicating how many photos have been uploaded for which specific communities.

For example, for Kill Devil Hills (NC), there are 11 photos uploaded and they are all from 1901-1911 and are connected to the Orville Brothers and their “First Flight” in the area.

When you explore this site, if you find any really cool images of either just family, where they lived or which you just found interesting – please do share!

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