California in 3-D during the 1800s-1900s



Calif-1883 railroadNewest item available for research are the California State Library digitized collection of about 10,000 old sepia-toned 3-D photos, those done during the mid to late 1800s. These are stereoscopic photos viewed through hand-held viewers that turned the side-by-side double photos into a single 3-D image, a most unusual feature for 1890s.

Not all 10,000 images are online yet but the library is adding more all the time. calif-1906

With California’s rich history, there is quite a selection of images, ranging from Yosemite Park, Gold Rush miners, the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, everyday people at work and play as well as the results of the massive 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Scroll down on the 3-D California site to view all the photos some 121 now. There is no index or search yet, but there will be later. View each image in thumbnail form and click on any to enlarge. First you will see the red effects which give it its 3D — anaglyph — use any 3D glasses (red and blue lens).

Calif--visitorsClick on parallel and two copies in regular form will appear. You can then click on wiggle and that will wiggle the image–very neat effect. Click then on 2D and the regular full size image appears.

3D Photos: First passenger train of the C.S.R.R. at San Bernardino California, September 13, 1883. Union Street damaged by the great earthquake, San Francisco, April 1906. Visitors at Yosemite Valley, California in the early 1900s.

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