Buzz
New York City wasn’t always the sprawling metropolis filled with towering skyscrapers. Back in 1624, Dutch settlers arrived along the banks of the Hudson River and established a settlement that lasted just two years before they founded New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. In 1664, the British took control and renamed it New York City. For a brief period, it even served as the U.S. capital from 1785 to 1790. Its fascinating past has given rise to numerous photographic moments, many of which are now treasured vintage relics.
Today, New York City stands as one of the world’s premier tourist destinations. Visitors flock from all over to experience the buzz of Times Square, admire the iconic skyscrapers, attend Broadway shows, or visit the Statue of Liberty. Reflecting on old photographs, it’s incredible to see how the city has evolved into the bustling metropolis we know today, housing over 8.5 million people—especially when you consider that just 20,500 years ago, it was covered by a massive 1,000-foot sheet of ice.
10. Three Anchor Bay
Cape Town, often affectionately referred to as the ‘Mother City,’ is nestled in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Set against the backdrop of Table Mountain, it is the second-largest city in the country by population.
Three Anchor Bay is an upscale and highly sought-after neighborhood in Cape Town, celebrated for the beach bearing its name, where the renowned Afrikaans poet Ingrid Jonker tragically took her life in 1965. The area is home to several towering apartment blocks with sweeping ocean views, along with an elevated promenade that has become a favorite spot for joggers. Between the buildings, you can catch glimpses of Lion’s Head, the mountain that stands proudly between Table Mountain and Signal Hill.
Back in 1905, however, Three Anchor Bay was a very different place. There were just a handful of houses, and no promenade in sight. Instead, the area was dominated by a vast, sandy beach where people could bask in the sun, with Lion’s Head standing proudly in full view.
9. Canyon de Chelly
Canyon de Chelly, located in Arizona, was once home to the Ancient Puebloans who settled here due to the area’s natural water sources, fertile soil, and plentiful wildlife. They thrived in the canyon until the mid-1300s, when they left in search of more fertile lands. After their departure, their Hopi descendants moved in, planting corn and fruit orchards in the canyons. Eventually, the Hopi left as well, and the canyons became the home of the Navajo people. Today, the Navajo Nation and the National Park Service collaborate to maintain and preserve this historically significant site.
This powerful 1904 photograph by Edward S. Curtis captures Navajo riders crossing the arid desert, with the towering Canyon de Chelly looming in the background. It remains one of Curtis’s most iconic images.
8. Cappadocia
Cappadocia is home to the famous 'fairy chimneys,' a series of stunning rock formations that transform in color each evening as the sun sets. These unusual formations originated from ancient volcanic eruptions that blanketed the land in thick ash. Over time, this ash solidified into a soft rock known as 'tuff,' which was then shaped by erosion into towering, pointed structures, some reaching as high as 130 feet.
During the Roman Empire, persecuted Christians found refuge in Cappadocia, where they quickly discovered the ease of carving into the soft tuff rock. As a result, a network of houses, caves, storehouses, and even churches emerged. The inhabitants also constructed subterranean cities that extended nearly ten stories underground, with enough space to shelter up to 10,000 people at a time.
In 1935, John D. Whiting and G. Eric Matson traveled to Cappadocia on behalf of the National Geographic Society. They captured a remarkable collection of 134 photographs, including one iconic image showing their car parked in front of one of the fairy chimneys.
7. Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is nothing short of enchanting, with its vast moorlands and captivating scenery. As the largest of the Inner Hebrides, Skye boasts breathtaking landmarks like the historic Dunvegan Castle, charming fishing villages, and the iconic Fairy Pools. If you're fortunate, the elusive Northern Lights may even make an appearance.
Skye has been home to human settlements since prehistoric times, and its rich history provides a wealth of photographic inspiration beyond the stunning landscapes. This image (date unknown) captures a quaint house in the village of Dunvegan, perched above a tranquil sea loch.
6. Machu Picchu
The ruins of Machu Picchu radiate an aura of mystery that enchants those who view them, even through the lens of a camera. While some speculate that German explorer Augusto Berns may have visited the site in 1867, it was not until 1911 that Yale professor Hiram Bingham rediscovered it, guided by Melchor Arteaga, a local Quechua-speaking resident. At the time, Bingham was on a quest to find the lost Inca city of Vilcabamba.
Excavations at Machu Picchu took place between 1911 and 1915, again in 1934, and once more between 1940 and 1941. It is widely accepted that the site was built and inhabited from the mid-fifteenth to mid-sixteenth century and is believed to have served as a palace complex for the Inca ruler, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui.
Bingham captured a series of photos during his time at the site, providing an interesting glimpse at the excavation process and what Machu Picchu looked like over one hundred years ago.
5. The Wailing Wall
Jerusalem is home to the Wailing Wall, also known as the Western Wall, which is the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. Thousands of people make the journey each year to visit the site and recite prayers which are often written down and placed within the cracks of the wall.
King Herod built the wall in 20 BC, and when the Romans destroyed the adjoining Second Temple in AD 70, its support wall (the Wailing Wall) was spared.
In this photograph, taken in 1921, a section of the massive wall can be seen, with two British soldiers standing knee-deep in the snow before it.
4. St. James’s Street
In the 17th century, St. James’s became a prime residential area for the British aristocracy. Situated in the City of Westminster, London, it is part of the West End. The district's name comes from a 12th-century leper hospital, and the hospital’s site is now home to St. James’s Palace.
Commissioned by Henry VIII in the 1530s, St. James’s Palace is the oldest surviving royal residence in the UK. Once a central palace during the early Georgian era, it was eventually overshadowed by the rise of Buckingham Palace in the early 19th century.
In 1897, Queen Victoria marked the 60th anniversary of her reign with a grand celebration. After a Thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle, she returned to London, where she was greeted by streets adorned with Union Jacks, a vibrant sea of flowers, and joyful crowds.
St. James’s Street, the main thoroughfare of the area, was lavishly decorated with garlands, lights, and temporary structures outside homes, shops, and offices in honor of the jubilee celebrations. A photograph of the festive street, taken by York & Son, is now part of an exhibition at Birmingham Library.
3. Pont du Gard
The Pont du Gard aqueduct stands as a remarkable feat of engineering and artistry. Built by the Romans in the first century AD, it was designed to transport water over 50 kilometers to Nemausus (modern-day Nîmes). The construction took five years and required 1,000 workers, with the structure itself weighing approximately 50,000 tons. It spans the Gardon River and remains the tallest of all Roman aqueduct bridges.
In addition to its primary function, it also served as a toll bridge, with fees collected from travelers used to maintain the aqueduct.
Today, the Pont du Gard is one of France's most visited landmarks, a status it has held since the 18th century. A photograph of this impressive aqueduct was taken by an anonymous visitor in 1947.
2. Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate stands as one of Germany's most iconic structures. Erected in the 18th century by order of King Frederick William II, it was built on the site of a former city gate, which once marked the beginning of the road leading from Berlin to Brandenburg an der Havel.
Over the years, the Gate has witnessed countless significant historical moments. Although it was long regarded as a symbol of conflict, it now represents unity and peace across Europe. The site also hosted a memorable speech by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and it became a gathering point for 4,000 demonstrators who opposed a march by the anti-Islam group Pegida.
Every year, nearly a million visitors come together at the Brandenburg Gate to celebrate the New Year with an enormous party.
This photograph, taken in 1928, shows the Gate with the Quadriga statue, which prominently features Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, standing atop it.
1. The Sagrada Familia
Nearly 140 years have passed since the initial design of The Sagrada Familia was first revealed. Francisco de Paula del Villar, the original architect, was succeeded by Antoni Gaudí, who redefined Villar's vision. Gaudí dedicated himself to the project until his death in 1926, after which Domènec Sugranyes took over the work.
Over the decades, construction on the minor basilica continued, though progress was interrupted in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Work resumed in April 2021, focusing on the construction of an 18-meter tall reinforced concrete shaft that will crown the Sagrada Familia. It is hoped that the building will be finished by 2026, marking exactly 100 years since Gaudí’s passing.
This photograph of the Sagrada Familia was captured in 1905, 23 years after construction began.
