Urbanization

Urbanization

Are you ready to be an image detective? Do you think we can learn about history just by looking at an old photograph? Search for clues in each photograph to see if you can determine the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW for each image. Don't worry, there are questions for each image to help you discover all there is to know about these old photographs. Are you ready?

What do you see in each photograph? Click on each image to enlarge it and see more detail. You may also click on the blue "i" in the corner of each image to read a description, or caption, of the photograph. Do you ever write descriptions about the photos you take? What information do you like to include? Some images will have more information in the caption than others. Why do you think this is?

Learn more about urbanization in Virginia.

Colonial Beach

Colonial Beach

  1. Describe how the people in the picture are dressed.
  2. Are the people in the picture related to each other? Why do you say that?
  3. If you were one of the people in the picture, what sounds do you think you would hear?
  4. Do you think these people live and work nearby? Why do you think that?
  5. Do you think any of the people in the picture are farmers? Why do you think that?
  6. Why do you think the photographer took this picture?

Engine Company #4, Richmond, 1911

Engine Company #4, Richmond, 1911

  1. How many people do you see in this picture?
  2. What might happen next in this picture? What makes you think that?
  3. Who do you think is the most important person in this picture? Why do you think that?
  4. If you had to write a new caption for this picture, what would it be?
  5. How would a picture of a firefighting company be different today? How would it be the same?
  6. Why do you think the photographer took this picture?

The New York Lunch Room, Norfolk, 1919

The New York Lunch Room, Norfolk, 1919

  1. What does this picture show? What makes you think that?
  2. What do you think the man seated at the counter is saying to the man behind the counter?
  3. What objects would you place on the counter that would belong?
  4. If you were seated at the counter, what do you think you would smell? Why do you say that?
  5. Compare the picture with the other picture of the Norfolk lunch room. How are they different? How are they similar?
  6. As you look at both pictures, list three questions that you have.

Café, Norfolk, 1919

Café, Norfolk, 1919

  1. What does this picture show? What makes you think that?
  2. What do you think the man seated at the counter is saying to the man behind the counter?
  3. What objects would you place on the counter that would belong?
  4. If you were seated at the counter, what do you think you would smell? Why do you say that?
  5. Compare the picture with the other picture of the Norfolk lunch room. How are they different? How are they similar?
  6. As you look at both pictures, list three questions that you have.

Weldon's Market, Richmond, early twentieth century

Weldon's Market, Richmond, early 20th century

  1. How many people are in the picture?
  2. If you could talk to one of the people in this picture, what would you say?
  3. What don't you see in this picture that you think you should see?
  4. In what ways is this store different from the store where you get your groceries? How is it similar?
  5. Bananas grow in Central and South America. Describe how you think they got to this store.
  6. Why do you think the photographer took this picture?

Broad Street looking east, Richmond, 1924

Broad Street looking east, Richmond, 1924

  1. How many different kinds of transportation do you see in the picture? List them.
  2. Estimate how many people you see in the picture.
  3. If you could talk to one of the people in the picture, what would you say?
  4. Write a caption for this picture that you feel explains what this picture is about.
  5. List three questions that you have about this picture.
  6. In this picture, what might happen if the traffic officers (the men under the umbrellas) were not there?