Daily Photo — “Urban Cabin, 1910”
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis.
Washington, D.C., circa 1910. “Ambassador White at Poet Miller Cabin, Meridian Hill.” This is the former home of poet Joaquin Miller, “Poet of the Sierras,” relocated to Rock Creek Park in 1911 to make room for Henry White’s mansion. It remains the only example of a late 19th century wooden cabin in Washington DC, and is a US Historic District Contributing Property. [WIKIPEDIA]
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Tags: architecture, history, home life, log cabin, poets, warm-ups, Washington DC, writing
Daily Photo — “”Broadway Advertising”, 1937″
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis.
Here is a fun “then and now” photo, showing a Manhattan storefront in 1937 with the plethora of accompanying signage and distinctive architecture. Today it is a very non-descript, generic Starbucks (See below) [GOOGLE MAPS]
May 7, 1937. “William Goldberg, 771 Broadway, Manhattan.” 8×10 gelatin silver print by Berenice Abbott for the Federal Art Project.
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THEN:
NOW:
Tags: 1930s, advertising, architecture, business, history, New York City, then and now, warm-ups, writing
Daily Photo — “Diamond Battery, 1919”
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis.
This is another one of those fun “then and now” photos that make history come alive. I love the old storefront for a new type of business in 1919, electric motor batteries. It’s also interesting to see how the buildings across the street reflect in the windows. The building is still there, but the storefront has changed quite a bit. — [GOOGLE MAPS]
Washington, D.C., circa 1919. “Roy F. Carty.” Chief draftsman for the Shipping Board during the war, Roy went into business for himself in 1919 at 1407 14th Street N.W. National Photo Company Collection glass negative.
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Tags: 1910s, architecture, business, history, store, then and now, warm-ups, Washington DC, writing
Daily Photo — “Rickety Manor, 1937”
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis.
This is another one of those fun “then and now” photos that make history come alive. I saw this photo from 1937 and it looks like the place is about to fall down. surprisingly it was still standing and looks like it’s in great shape. It’s the Josiah Smith Tennent House and is on the US Register of Historic Places. Today it is home to a variety of non-profit organizations, including a dental care facility and day care– [GOOGLE MAPS]
1937. “Charleston, South Carolina. 727 Bay Street.” Come in, and watch your step. 8×10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston.
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Tags: 1930s, architecture, Charleston, history, home life, homes, south carolina, then and now, warm-ups, writing
Daily Photo — “South Hill St., Los Angeles, 1972”
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis.
Another “then and now”, this time in sunny Los Angeles. Unlike most of these you see in large, ever-evolving big cities, the buildings are are all remarkably well preserved here. — [GOOGLE MAPS]
April 1942. “South Hill Street, Los Angeles.” Now playing at the Warner: The Male Animal. Photo by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information.
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Tags: 1940s, architecture, cities, city life, history, Los Angeles, then and now, urbanlife, warm-ups, writing
Daily Photo — “California from Sansome, 1890s”
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis.
I’m on a “then and now” kick with these because I think they are fun, and hopefully you do as well, please let me know!
Today’s is a photo of San Francisco from sometime in the 1890s at the corner of California and Sansome Sts. and Google Maps shows the same location today. Of course, much can change in 120 years, but I have to think that most of these buildings and structures were lost in the Earthquake of 1906. Make sure you really zoom in and take a look at all the windows and signs, as they are the most interesting thing here!
San Francisco circa 1890s. “California Street from Sansome Street.” With a horsecar passing by. Copy negative of a photo by I.W. Taber.
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Tags: architecture, cities, city, city life, history, San Francisco, then and now, urban life, warm-ups, writing
Daily Photo — “Glascock House, 1939”
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis.
This is another one of those fun “then and now” photos that make history come alive. The house pictured was built in 1844, photographed here in 1939, and still stands today in 2017, where is it used as an office for a real estate appraiser. — [GOOGLE MAPS]
1939. “Glascock House, 1109 21st Ave., Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Built 1844 for John Glascock of Virginia.” Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston.
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Tags: 1930s, Alabama, architecture, history, home life, homes, then and now, warm-ups, writing
The Architecture of American Houses
From Postmedieval homes in the new colonies, to the McMansions that have sprung up in the last decades to everything in between, the architecture of the American home is a very interesting journey. This infographic hits just about every style of home in the past 400+ years since the founding of Jamestown, Virginia to now. What’s your favorite? [VIA]
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Tags: American, American home, architecture, art, design, history, houses, infographic, reference
Daily Artwork — “Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, in the rain, Colin Campbell Cooper, 1905”
Use the images posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of an artwork critique.
Competed in 1881, the Broad Street Station in Philadelphia, PA served as a vital hub for traffic in and out of Center City. It was razed in 1952 to make way for Penn Plaza (now One Penn Center) and a high-rise office complex. A full history is located at The Philly History Blog.
This is the area today via Google Maps: Penn Center area (15th-18th streets and JFK BLVD to Market St.)
1905 — Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, in the rain. Oil on Canvas. Impressionism style. Colin Campbell Cooper (1856-1937). Payne Gallery (Moravian College), Bethlehem, PA, USA.
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Tags: analysis, architecture, art, cityscape, Colin Campbell Cooper, critique, history, impressionism, painting, Pennsylvania Railroad, Philadelphia, railroad, trains
The Modern Cost of Iconic Landmarks
If you had the money, how cool would it be to have your own Statue of Liberty, Leaning Tower of Pisa, or Big Ben? While you would probably find more practical things to spend your money on, how much would it cost you to build an exact replica of some of the world’s most iconic landmarks yourself? The folks at Home Advisor took a look at this, taking into account the cost of the materials used to build some of the landmarks, and then adjusting the build time to account for modern equipment, but charging modern labor! The results might surprise you. (All costs adjusted for inflation and set at 2015 prices.) [VIA]
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Tags: architecture, building, construction, costs, economics, history, inflation, infographic, landmarks, world culture
