Blog Historic Aerials

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

From Orchards to Runways

In the heart of the American Midwest, a transformation of epic proportions has unfolded over the last century. What began as a humble landscape of apple orchards and farmlands has

Edgar Tobin’s Oilfields from Above: The 1930s Texas Surveys

In a World War I–era portrait, Edgar Gardner Tobin looks every bit the confident aviator: crisp attire, steady gaze, and the bearing of someone used to seeing the world from

Peering Through Time: A Spotlight on the Spotlight Tool

If you haven’t used the Compare tools on HistoricAerials, you’re missing out on something spectacular! I use the Image Viewer mostly to explore and help me understand the history of

Cargo ship collided with and collapsed a portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Francis Scott Key Bridge: Aerial Insights on Baltimore’s Outer Crossing

Steel folded like paper and concrete sheared into jagged edges — the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge left a visual imprint that’s hard to forget. But long before

Aerial Insights into America’s Ghost Towns

Tracing Suburban Growth Through Aerial Images

Submerged More Of America’s Flooded Places

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

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

Rings of Speed: America’s Historic Race Tracks

From Orchards to Runways

Edgar Tobin’s Oilfields from Above: The 1930s Texas Surveys

Peering Through Time: A Spotlight on the Spotlight Tool

Francis Scott Key Bridge: Aerial Insights on Baltimore’s Outer Crossing

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