Salem Witch House, 1901 (top) and 2013 (bottom). Top, public domain. Bottom, A.Heidelberg, CC-NC 4.0
Salem Witch House, 1901 and 2013
In 1692, Salem, Massachusetts was a terrifying place to be. Anyone, beggars, farmers, wealthy tavern owners, even a minister could be (and were) accused of witchcraft. Salem judges had nineteen people hanged and pressed one to death based on “spectral evidence” provided by a handful of the town’s teen girls. Jonathan Corwin was a judge during the Trials, investigating claims and signing arrest warrants. The Witch House (also known as the Jonathan Corwin House) is the only known remaining building associated with the Trials. Over the centuries, the house underwent radical alterations. In 1856, druggist George Farrington purchased the property and added an apothecary to the front (seen in the 1901 photo). In 1945 the building was moved from its original location to save it from a road project, kick-starting other preservation efforts. The City of Salem bought the house and has restored it back to its 1600s form.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Paris, 1920 (l) and 2016 (r). nwolpert, re.photos. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Paris, France, 1920 and 2016
Under the watch of an eternal flame and the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies as a symbol of the soldiers who died in World War I, never to have a tomb under their own names. The 1920 image shows the ceremony and burial of the solider selected to represent these unnamed fallen. War Minister André Maginot asked Auguste Thin, who guarded the coffins of eight Tomb candidates, to select one for the Tomb. Thin placed a bouquet of lilies on the sixth casket, and the coffin entombed on January 28, 1921. The 2016 image shows the wreaths and other honors still presented at the Tomb. Members of the Committee of the Flame and Association of Veterans re-light the Eternal Flame every evening as the sun sets in memory of those who gave their lives during World War I.
United States Capitol, 1846 (l), and 2013 (r). (l) Public Domain, (r) Emw, CC-SA 3.0
United States Capitol, 1846 and 2013
The 2013 image of the United States Capitol is recognizable by millions, the neoclassical façade with the white dome looming toward the sky. As the symbol of United States democracy, and where the Senate and House meet to create the laws that impact people across the country, it is one of the most important buildings for the nation. But in 1846, the building looked quite different. The most noticeable difference is the dome. The original dome, designed by William Thornton in his 1793 design, looked like the dome of Rome’s Pantheon, which particularly pleased third President Thomas Jefferson, a big fan of neoclassical architecture and the Pantheon in particular. The dome as we know it today wasn’t added until the 1860s, when the Capitol was expanded to create wings on the north and south sides of the building. These chambers would house the Senate and House of Representatives.
Warsaw’s Skyline, 2010 and 2020. Bera, re.photos, CC BY 4.0
Warsaw’s Skyline, a City of Skyscrapers, 2010 and 2020
Although the two images are only ten years apart, they show a dramatic growth in Warsaw, Poland’s skyline. The Palace of Culture and Science, built in the 1950s, is a design that blends the geometric forms of Art Deco with neoclassical elements like colonnades and decoration along the roof lines. In 2010 it was the tallest building in Warsaw. By 2020 other skyscrapers overtook the Palace. The Varso Tower, currently Warsaw’s tallest skyscraper, exceeds the Palace by almost 80 meters (260 feet). More skyscrapers are in the works. Warsaw officials have stated they hope to have more skyscrapers than any other European city, and being the “most modern capital in Europe.” As of 2023, Warsaw has sixty-five skyscrapers already completed or in the works. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, it is currently the tallest city in Poland, sixth tallest in Europe, and 100th worldwide.
Water Temple Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, 1933 (l) and 2016 (r). Lena, re.photos. CC BY-SA 4.0
Water Temple Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Then and Now
The Water Temple Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is a 17th century Hindu complex, featuring sculpted gardens and three pagodas. These shrines honor the gods, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Dewi Danu, goddess of the lake. Vishnu’s pagoda, the tallest at 11 tiers, is dedicated to the god of maintaining balance. A seven-tiered shrine is devoted to Brahma, god of creation. The smallest shrine at only three tiers is dedicated to Shiva, god of destruction and renewal. While the pagodas haven’t changed a great deal, the setting has. The rustic setting from 1933 has been landscaped and turned into a garden. A Buddhist stupa within the complex, which predate the Hindu shrines, is a reminder of the close relationship Buddhism and Hinduism have shared throughout history.
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