A Photo Glimpse into History: Riga Then and Now

I have always been fascinated, if not by time travel exactly, then at least by imagining how a particular place looked a century or two ago and how it might look in the future. Especially in cities, in territories long inhabited by people, you get the feeling that each particular place holds informational layers from several eras, and all that remains is to make a little effort to discern them. But since unfortunately I have no paranormal abilities, one day I simply picked up a camera and walked around the city centre to capture several Riga streets, buildings, and squares, and later compared them with past photographs found in the Letonika database. I must say, I discovered many interesting details.

Riga Post and Telegraph Building, 5 Aspazijas Boulevard, Riga, 1920s

University of Latvia Faculty of Economics and Management, 5 Aspazijas Boulevard, Riga, August 2011

Stock Exchange Commercial School, 13 Kalpaka Boulevard, Riga, early 20th century

Latvian Academy of Arts, 13 Kalpaka Boulevard, Riga, August 2011

Town Hall Square, Riga, 1930s

Town Hall Square, Riga, August 2011

Vaļņu Street, early 20th century

Vaļņu Street, August 2011

 
  
20 Smilšu Street, Riga, War Museum, 1920s & August 2011

Lenin Street, Soviet Latvia era

Brīvības Street, August 2011

Nikolaja Street, Riga, early 20th century

Kr. Valdemāra Street, Riga, August 2011

Hotel "Rīga", 22 Aspazijas Boulevard, Soviet Latvia era

Hotel Rīga, 22 Aspazijas Boulevard, Riga, August 2011

Monument to Peter the Great, Riga, early 20th century

Freedom Monument, Riga, August 2011

Public transport, Aspazijas Boulevard, early 20th century

Public transport, Kr. Barona Street, August 2011