Washington Street, Boston
James Wallace Black 1825 - 1896 - photographer at 173 Washington Street, was a leading photographic contemporary of John P. Soule in 1860. He was the first to successfully produce an aerial photograph in the United States. Black's famous view taken from Samuel Archer King's balloon Queen of the Air was of Washington Street looking east from Boston Common. The Old South Meeting House appears on the left of his image. Much of the district depicted in the center of his photograph would be later destroyed in the Great Boston Fire of 1872.
Boston October 13, 1860 As the eagle & wild goose sees it. (NY Metropolitan Museum of Art)
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Comparing Washington Street photographers at the time of the Civil War, we learn that John P. Soule quickly emerged as the premier publisher of other photographers work. American photography began its roots on this street.
July 4, 1865 Washington Street, Boston, MA Stereograph by Heywood.
Finding details in the images - The studio of J. W. Black (left)
and (right) Boston honors the veterans who served.
November, 1872 Washington Street, Boston, MA Stereograph by Kilburn Brothers, Littleton, NH.