Blog Historic Aerials

Nadar and the Birth of Aerial Photography

History records that a man named Nadar took the first aerial photograph from a balloon over Paris. There is only one problem: no one has ever seen it. In 1858,

How Wet Plate Collodion Opened the Sky for Photography

On a summer afternoon in the mid‑19th century, a photographer in the field might be racing the clock—glass plate in hand, chemicals ready, light fading—knowing that once the collodion dried,

Panning panoramic aerial photograph showing widespread destruction in San Francisco following the 1906 earthquake and fire.

The First Time Humanity Saw a Disaster From the Sky

How did anyone photograph San Francisco from the air in 1906—years before airplanes existed?
George R. Lawrence’s panoramic image of the ruined city looks deceptively modern, but its creation

Above the Trenches: WWI and the Revolution in Aerial Reconnaissance

World War I is defined by its horrific mechanized violence that slaughtered millions of soldiers. The desperate necessities of that brutal war served as a catalyst for rapid technological development,

Lindbergh and the Birth of Aerial Archaeology in the Americas

Charles Lindbergh is best remembered for his historic transatlantic flight, but his contributions to archaeology are less known. His fascination with using planes for archaeological discovery began in the summer

Aerial Insights: Exploring the Aftermath of the 1957 Ruskin Heights Tornado

On the evening of May 20, 1957, a wedge tornado more than a mile wide carved through the Ruskin Heights neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri. It killed 44 people. Injured

Aerial Insights into America’s Ghost Towns

The American landscape is dotted with ghost towns—silent remnants of bygone eras. Once bustling with life, these towns were abandoned due to economic downturns, natural disasters, or technological changes. Well-known

Tracing Suburban Growth Through Aerial Images

Suburbs have become woven into the fabric of American life, stretching out from city centers and transforming what was once forest and farmland into sprawling neighborhoods, shopping centers, and winding

Submerged More Of America’s Flooded Places

Beneath some of America’s most popular lakes, there are roads. Foundations. Railroad beds. The grid of streets that once organized someone’s entire life. The water is calm and the scenery

The Big Screen Outside: Aerial Insights into America’s Drive-in Theaters

Drive-in movie theaters, an iconic part of American culture, hold a unique place in the history of entertainment. These outdoor theaters were a direct reflection of the nation’s growing car

Cold Case From Above: Aerial Imagery and the Dean Corll Investigation

I’ve lived in the Houston area most of my life. But I knew nothing about Dean Corll, nicknamed the “Candy Man.” The story hit harder when I dug in. Corll

Rings of Speed:America’s Historic Race Tracks

For those interested in the history of auto racing, there is so much available to discover and explore in aerial imagery. Many legendary tracks have been the settings for our