UNCOVER the visual record of your city
Our web app merges location data with the digital collections of museums and libraries, making it easier than ever to explore the history of urban environments.
The Web App
Who uses this?
Some of our most active users are educators, students, and librarians, but anyone can use the web app. The web app is designed to allow users to explore the city's history block-by-block.
STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND EDUCATORS
RESOURCE LIBRARIANS AND ARCHIVISTS
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
CITY PLANNERS AND PRESERVATIONISTS
Urban Explorers
FEATURES
User Accounts
Create an unlimited number of accounts. Each user can create and edit content.
Partner Pages / Handles
Easily find and share content from your favorite institutions via Partner Pages (ex: @nyhistory).
Search
Surface historic sites and facts with keyword search and advanced filtering.
Location Pages
Explore the history of a specific location with images sourced from various organizations.
Sharing
Share images and source links directly from Urban Archive.
Stories
Learn the city, block-by-block, using the archives that hold these stories.
User Feedback
Comment on content and send feedback directly to Urban Archive from the app.
Edit Mode
Easily toggle between edit and view mode before content is published to the app.
2D + 3D
Pan around in 2D and 3D to view the evolution of the city’s built environment.
WHAT OUR PARTNERS ARE SAYING
"We have an extensive collection of New York City photography, and we're always looking for new ways to share it with new audiences. Urban Archive has been a terrific platform for us because we've been able to share the unique, compelling stories behind our vintage pictures and engage users who are just discovering our collection."
—Michael Ryan, VP and Library Director, New-York Historical Society
Web App FAQ
What’s the difference between the Web App and the iOS app?
Our iOS and Web App mirror each other. While our native mobile app is built for the Apple iPhone, our Web App can be accessed via any internet browser and will adapt to whichever device users are viewing them on.
How does your team work with our collections?
We use a variety of research tools to discover the stories behind historic sites and the people and events that surround them. Starting from metadata provided by our partners, our team accesses troves of online archives including newspapers and fire insurance maps to piece together compelling accounts of history.
Can we make changes to our organization’s profile page and handle?
Yes. You can make changes to your organization’s profile page and handle directly in the Urban Archive dashboard.
Who curates the content in Urban Archive?
Our content team works with the collections of our partners to bring forward narratives and stories that are waiting to be told. Content on Urban Archive can be produced by our team either independently or collaboratively to tell a story, lead a walk, frame an event, or showcase an individual. Partners are also fully able to produce their own content on our platform.
Can users download high-res image from the web app?
No. We containerize all images in our web app to keep users from downloading images and collection metadata directly. We also only display low-res images in-app as an extra safety measure.