Photo 1: The welcome arch outside of Denver Union Station in the late 1900s. The arch was dismantled in 1931 due to traffic congestion and high maintenance costs

Summary of Analysis:

• Signage: The large “WELCOME” sign prominently displayed at the top of the arch suggests a public event or a major entry point for travelers, possibly near a train station.

• Architecture and Infrastructure: The brick buildings with factory-style windows and the arch’s elaborate ironwork reflect architectural trends from the early 20th century, likely from a major industrial city.

• Crowd and Attire: The individuals are wearing suits, typical of daily urban fashion in the early 1900s. No modern clothing styles are present, which solidifies this time period.

• Geographical Features: The flat, wide streets, streetcars, and an urban layout suggest a bustling, centralized downtown area, possibly in an American city.

• General Context: The presence of industrial buildings, streetcars, and a formal welcome sign points to this being Union Depot in Denver, Colorado, during the early 1900s, a prominent transport hub at the time.

Year:

• The photograph is likely from 1908.

• The streetcars and horse-drawn carriages indicate a transitional period between older forms of transport and the rise of automobiles, placing it between 1900 and 1910. Additionally, the formal clothing styles and industrial architecture match the early 1900s' trends.

Location:

• This photo was taken in Denver, Colorado, USA.

• The key clue is the “Union Depot” mentioned on signage and the distinct urban setting. Denver’s Union Station was a significant landmark in the early 20th century, and the style of the arch and the urban infrastructure strongly align with this city.

Photo 2: A flashmob against government plans to dismantle the AUVA (Austria's general accident insurance institution) in Vienna

Summary of Analysis:

• Signage: The sign in the background says, “Wir sind 100.000!” and "NOTAUFNAHME" in bold red letters, indicating this is a German-speaking country, likely during a protest related to healthcare.

• Architecture and Infrastructure: The building’s design, with smooth beige stone and subtle detailing, reflects mid-20th century European construction typical of government or institutional buildings.

• Crowd and Attire: The mix of professional attire (white coats) and casual clothing suggests a public protest with a healthcare focus. The style of clothing is modern, pointing to a recent decade.

• Geographical Features: There are no distinct geographical features, but the protest setting in front of a governmental or healthcare building hints at a European city.

• General Context: Given the signage, this is likely a healthcare-related protest in Vienna, Austria, based on the presence of the AUVA logo, an Austrian accident insurance company.

Year:

• This photo was likely taken in 2019.

• The clothing styles, protest themes, and overall modern aesthetic suggest the late 2010s. The signs and use of modern typography are consistent with protest movements of this era.

Location:

• This photo was taken in Vienna, Austria.

• The text on the signage, including references to "AUVA," which is an Austrian insurance company, provides clear evidence that this scene is located in Austria, likely outside a healthcare facility or government building in Vienna.

Photo 3: Taxis driving through the streets of Barcelona during Semana Grande, an annual week-long festival of sports and culture in Spain

Summary of Analysis:

• Signage: The signage reads “Semana Grande” and “Almacenes Rodríguez,” which are in Spanish, pointing to a Spanish-speaking country. The style of advertising and fonts is typical of mid-20th century Spain.

• Architecture and Infrastructure: The stone balconies and intricate details on the buildings reflect Barcelona's architectural style, blending modernist influences with older European designs.

• Crowd and Attire: The people in the photo are wearing modest, formal clothing that matches mid-1950s European fashion. The use of older car models in the background also supports this timeframe.

• Geographical Features: The busy, wide streets and multi-story stone buildings suggest a major city. Barcelona’s unique urban planning and wide avenues are consistent with what’s seen in the image.

• General Context: Based on the combination of language, architecture, and street layout, this scene likely depicts a commercial district in Barcelona, Spain, during the late 1950s.

Year:

• This photograph was taken in 1957.

• The style of cars, such as the boxy taxis, corresponds to mid-1950s models, commonly seen in Spain. The people’s fashion, featuring modest formal attire, and the type of advertising on the streets suggest this is from the late 1950s, specifically 1957, as Barcelona was economically recovering and modernizing during this time.

Location:

• This photo was taken in Barcelona, Spain.

• The architecture, including the stone buildings with balconies, is consistent with Barcelona’s well-known modernist and traditional styles.

• The Spanish-language signs, along with the wide avenues, are characteristic of Barcelona’s busy commercial districts in the mid-20th century, reinforcing that this is Barcelona in 1957.

Photo 4: A traffic jam in Lagos, Nigeria

Summary of Analysis:

• Signage: The road signs in English, such as “Adeniyi Jones Ave” and “Kudirat Abiola Way,” point to an English-speaking country with major African influences, likely in a city in Nigeria.

• Architecture and Infrastructure: The modern billboards and traffic infrastructure suggest a developing urban area, with a focus on commerce and telecommunications, which is prevalent in many Nigerian cities.

• Crowd and Attire: The attire of the people—mainly casual clothing with bright colors—points to a modern African city. The use of mobile phones is also a clue of recent years.

• Geographical Features: The crowded urban street scene, with dense traffic and road signs, strongly suggests a busy city center, possibly Lagos.

• General Context: Given the signage and dense urban setting, this scene is likely from Lagos, Nigeria, a city known for its traffic congestion and rapidly growing infrastructure.

Year:

• This photograph appears to have been taken in 2015.

• The road infrastructure and telecommunications advertising on the billboards reflect recent developments in Nigeria. The heavy traffic and modern cars align with the mid-2010s, as Lagos underwent rapid urbanization during this time.

Location:

• This photo was likely taken in Lagos, Nigeria.

• The road names and signage, combined with the urban environment, point clearly to Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria. The signage refers to specific streets in Lagos, confirming the location.

Photo 5: Crowds walking around The Trocadéro in Paris during the 1937 World Exposition in France

Summary of Analysis:

• Signage: The prominent Eiffel Tower provides an unmistakable landmark. Flags in the background indicate this may be an international event, such as a World's Fair in Paris.

• Architecture and Infrastructure: The clean lines of the fountains and surrounding modernist pavilions suggest mid-20th century architecture, likely related to a global exposition.

• Crowd and Attire: The formal attire of the crowd, with many wearing coats, reflects fashion trends from the 1930s. No modern clothing is present, and the event seems quite formal.

• Geographical Features: The Eiffel Tower itself is the main geographical feature, placing this image firmly in Paris, France.

• General Context: The large crowd and the pavilions suggest this is likely from the 1937 Exposition Internationaleheld in Paris, a world fair focused on art and technology.

Year:

• This photo was likely taken in 1937.

• The style of the pavilions, the international flags, and the formal attire of the crowd correspond to the 1937 World's Fair in Paris. The architecture surrounding the Eiffel Tower was designed specifically for this event.

Location:

• This photo was taken in Paris, France.

• The Eiffel Tower and the pavilions make it unmistakably Paris. The scale of the event and the design of the structures strongly suggest this is from the 1937 World's Fair, held in Paris near the Eiffel Tower.