This Picture of Boston, Circa 1860, Is the World’s Oldest Surviving Aerial Photo
Share
[aggregation-styles]
Smithsonian
Smithsonian
The first flight of an untethered hot air balloon—humanity’s first really successful attempt at flight—took place in 1783 when “Pilâtre de Rozier and the Marquis d’Arlandes” flew over Paris. The first real photograph was taken in 1826 when Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took a picture out of his window.
It took more than 30 years for someone to put these two inventions together to bring us the world’s first photo from the air. That photo, an 1858 aerial image of Paris, France, captured by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon is no longer with us. But the next best thing, says PetaPixel, is in the caring hands of the New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art: an 1860 photograph of Boston captured from 2,000 feet.
It took more than 30 years for someone to put these two inventions together to bring us the world’s first photo from the air. That photo, an 1858 aerial image of Paris, France, captured by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon is no longer with us. But the next best thing, says PetaPixel, is in the caring hands of the New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art: an 1860 photograph of Boston captured from 2,000 feet.
By Colin Schultz | 3 April 2013
RELATED TOPICS:
Experts Call Kennedy’s Plan to find Autism’s Cause Unrealistic
Politics /
2 days ago
Trump’s Trip to Saudi Arabia Raises the Prospect of US Nuclear Cooperation With the Kingdom
World /
2 days ago
Two Teens Charged in Shooting Death of Caleb Quick
Local /
2 days ago
Soviet-Era Spacecraft Plunges to Earth After 53 Years Stuck in Orbit
Science /
2 days ago
Tax the Rich? Slash Spending? Republicans Wrestle With Economic Priorities in the Trump Era
Politics /
2 days ago
Experts Call Kennedy’s Plan to find Autism’s Cause Unrealistic
Politics /
2 days ago
Trump’s Trip to Saudi Arabia Raises the Prospect of US Nuclear Cooperation With the Kingdom
World /
2 days ago
Two Teens Charged in Shooting Death of Caleb Quick
Local /
2 days ago
Soviet-Era Spacecraft Plunges to Earth After 53 Years Stuck in Orbit
Science /
2 days ago
Tax the Rich? Slash Spending? Republicans Wrestle With Economic Priorities in the Trump Era
Politics /
2 days ago
Experts Call Kennedy’s Plan to find Autism’s Cause Unrealistic
Politics /
2 days ago
Trump’s Trip to Saudi Arabia Raises the Prospect of US Nuclear Cooperation With the Kingdom
World /
2 days ago
Latest
Videos

Economy /
2 days ago
US-China Tariff Talks to Continue Sunday, an Official Tells The Associated Press

Local /
2 days ago
Two Teens Charged in Shooting Death of Caleb Quick

World /
5 days ago