California From Above: Then and Now

Aerial view of the Levees Built to Fill the San Francisco's Marina District in 1908
Golden Gate in the background;
Photograph by George Lawrence;
Image ID: AHLH2002
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You are invited to collaborate in an evolving travelling exhibit of historical and current aerial photography that highlights changes that have taken place in California during the last century. The exhibit features unique historical aerial photographs and current aerial photographs inspired by those images to show these changes. The exhibit will travel to venues across the state and will feature different geographic areas related to the exhibit venues. The exhibit will evolve as it travels from venue to venue and will feature imagery that relates to the geographic location in California of that venue. Presentations at openings highlight the context of changes in California illustrated by the aerial photographs.

Aerial Overview of the City of San Francisco in 1932
Marina Fill is complete;
Sand Dunes Still Slow Development in the Sunset
Image ID: AHLH2001
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One of the objectives of the exhibit is to use the aerial perspective as a starting point for an examination of some of the dramatic changes that have taken place in California during the last century. If you have insights into themes such as growth and urban sprawl, water issues in California, the development and disassembly of military presence and of transportation systems and the loss of wetlands, forests and agricultural areas, your participation would be particularly welcome.

San Francisco Bay at the location of the future
Mills Field, the predecessor to today's
San Francisco International Airport SFO
Image ID: AHLH2003
Terms of Image Use | Feedback

To become involved in the project in any way, please contact us.