Historic Aerials Blog

Delving into the past, one story at a time — exploring historical people, places, and events that shaped our world.

Collapsed beach house on an eroding bluff along the shore of Lake Michigan near Montague, Michigan.

The Truth About Owning Waterfront Property

So you’ve found the perfect waterfront property and you’re already imagining the dock you’ll build, the backyard barbecues, the early‑morning kayak trips, and the long, quiet evenings by the water.

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.

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

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

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