In 2024, we think of maps when trying to get from one place to another using GPS (Global Positioning System). Beyond GPS, what can maps do for us as public historians? Maps can be used as primary or secondary sources, depending on the information you are seeking.
If you are not a geographer or someone who has an interest in mapping, it can be easy overlook the value these documents hold. Older maps tell us about societies from the past and how they viewed the world. Newer, digital maps can show us changes over time or help us see points of interest.
I chose to explore a program called JuxtaposeJS to see how digital maps can be valuable for showing change over time or other points of interest.
The program requires the uploading of two images that are the same size. There are no requirements beyond those of sizing and file uploads. The program then adds a slider, dates, and image credits for the user after the images are uploaded. I knew I wanted to show a drastic change over ten to twenty years but I was unsure of what location. Initially, I wanted to focus on my hometown of Shelby, North Carolina. The city used to be a manufacturing hub but is not a popular Uptown area with local businesses and community centers. Despite this change, Google Earth images did not go back far enough to show significant change.
After brainstorming other locations, I thought of my future home in Florida. St. John’s County is one of Florida’s most developing counties. Every time I visit, there is a new neighborhood or shopping center. With this knowledge in mind, I wanted to see the neighborhood I visit frequently, Cimmarone Community. Thankfully, Google Earth had imagery dating back to 2002, in color! I wanted to use an image that is in color to truly compare the contrast.
Cimmarone Community, St. John’s County, FL. 2002, Courtesy of Google Earth
After exploring Google Earth Pro, I locked in on the neighborhood and saved images of both years. After finding the neighborhood and figuring out how to save images on Google Earth, it was easy to see the finished product!
As you interact with the images, it is clear to see the major differences in the area’s development. The main roads were expanded into county roads. There are two shopping centers across from each other. The neighborhood itself expanded and the golf course running through the neighborhood changed. Smaller neighborhoods were added down the street, as well. For a public historian, these changes represent a growing community of people with their own histories. If the area continues to develop, a museum could be in its future.
For the program itself, I found JuxtaposeJS extremely simple to use! It is user friendly and can be used for all images, not just those of Google Earth. There is a lot of creative freedom and I think that younger students could use this as a learning tool for maps! I see a lot of potential for activities and use showing before and after for changes big and small. Another benefit to museums is the option to create GIFs, a moving image that could be posted to social media. A fun GIF could attract attention to a museum’s social media.
I did not find any drawbacks with the program itself but it was complicated to embed into this blog post. I attempted to use the embed link provided by Juxtapose but it did not work on its own. I downloaded a widget that allowed me to embed the interactive photo.
Overall, I had fun comparing one location over various years and I think that others would benefit from doing it too!