Historic aerial imagery Archives - Blog Historic Aerials

Modern aerial view showing visible earthwork outlines and geometric shapes at the Junction Earthworks site, appearing as crop and vegetation patterns in an open field.

Archaeology from Above: How Historic Aerial Photos and LiDAR Reveal Time Depth in the Landscape

Historic aerial imagery plays a critical role in archaeology by preserving time depth—revealing how landscapes changed long before modern development erased surface evidence. A farm field in midsummer looks like

Public Domain Day 2026

Why 1930 Sanborn Maps are in now in the public domain…and how the rules actually work Every January 1, a quiet but meaningful shift occurs in the historical record. Another

Drone view of flood-damaged roadways and bridges along the Guadalupe River near Comfort, Texas, after flash flooding.

Aerial History of Flash Floods: Texas 2025 to SoCal 1938

Flash floods have shaped American history for generations. Each one reminds us that we cannot stop extreme rain, but we can reduce its impact. After every major event, local agencies,

Civil War soldiers using portable gas generators to inflate Professor Thaddeus Lowe’s military observation balloon near Gaines Mill, Virginia.

Balloons Of War, Part I: The Birth (and Near-Miss) of Aerial Reconnaissance

In early 2023, a high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon drifted into U.S. airspace. The balloon spent days crossing the continent before an F-22 shot it down off South Carolina. U.S. officials

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

George R. Lawrence and the “Hitherto Impossible” View of San Francisco

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

From War to Discovery: How WWI Pioneered Aerial Archaeology

World War I revolutionized military tactics with the introduction of aerial reconnaissance, but its legacy extended far beyond the battlefield. After the war, veterans who had trained as photo interpreters

Archaeology from Above: How Historic Aerial Photos and LiDAR Reveal Time Depth in the Landscape

Public Domain Day 2026

Aerial History of Flash Floods: Texas 2025 to SoCal 1938

Balloons Of War, Part I: The Birth (and Near-Miss) of Aerial Reconnaissance

George R. Lawrence and the “Hitherto Impossible” View of San Francisco

From War to Discovery: How WWI Pioneered Aerial Archaeology

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