New Historical Imagery in Google Earth!
Tuesday, 3rd February 2009 by James Turnbull
Yesterday Google released a major update to Google Earth, adding 3D oceans, a Mars browser and, best of all, historical imagery for much of the globe.
In some places the images go back decades, such as this shot of the Las Vegas strip from July 1950.
When compared with the current view you can see how the strip expanded around the airport, which was in the middle of a barren desert.
Manhattan island also has images for many different years, and going back to April 1994 we can see the World Trade Centre towers.
Although there's a wealth of new images we've never seen before, the update also gives us back lots of great shots that had previously been removed.
Way back in May 2005 we posted a stealth bomber that had been spotted at Edward’s Air Force Base, but later vanished with an image update. Now, by scrolling back to March 15th 2005, the bomber re-appears.
Or, if we keep going back until May 1994 we can see a couple of Blackbirds instead.
We can also revisit one of my favourite sights from the Google Sightseeing archives, the SS American Star.
These days it's almost completely submerged, but step back through time until 2000 and you'll see it rise out of the water and right itself.
So, get browsing the archives, and let us know what's returned!
Who builds an airport in the middle of nowhere?
And how does it turn into something like Las Vegas?
I’m sincerely curious. I wish this was a hypothetical question, ‘cos it seems very unreal.
Monster Park, now renamed back to Candlestick Park, used to be shown as full of people: https://www.googlesightseeing.com/2005/04/09/stadium-mega-post/
You can get those pictures back by going to October 31st 2002 or get an even older shot, which is also a gameday on July 10th 1993.
Izzy, you might wanna check with Bugsy Siegel and ask him about Las Vegas.
Rolling back time is incredible.
@Izzy – I have no idea if this is true (and I suspect that I wouldn’t be able to post this comment if I bothered to check), but I heard that Las Vegas was established there because that was as far as they could go before they had to set up a new telephone relay station…
Certainly I can’t see another good reason for stopping there!
@Alex – next time maybe you should check out Wikipedia first…
Will these historical images become available in Google Maps as well? And how far back in time do they go in other places?
Hmmm, Wi-kee-peee-de-aah you say?
Can’t say I’ve ever heard of it, but I’ll certainly take a look if I ever need to!
It is interesting but a bit glitchy, current picture is actually older then older pictures, I don’t know how they did it:) I did check progress on our Toronto Pearson Airport and currently it is not finished, but 2007 is completely done:)
Finally!
With no replies to this, I was beginning to think no one was listening to me 😉
http://groups.google.ca/group/earth-ideas/browse_thread/thread/d24fc0e9718cd4fe?hl=en#
I was impressed to see my car on google earth.. I am impressed..!