RIGIS Aerial Photographs from 1939, 1951, 1962 etc.

[Tmac02892]

I remembered that the Rhode Island GIS mapping site was offering free aerial photographs of RI, but I wasn't able to view the pictures since they needed a special program to open them.  I finally downloaded the free program, and what a treat!  The 1939 photos are surprisingly clear, and the things you can see are just as impressive.  And it gets better- you can document a site as it changes!  There are photos from a number of years, including 1939, 1951-2, 1962, 1972, 1976, 1981, and so on.  There are also high quality color aerial photos (1 meter pixel resolution)  from 2003.

Here's a link to the site:  http://www.edc.uri.edu/RIGIS/data/imageryBaseMapsEarthCover.html

The "specialized software" you need is either ExpressView Browser Plugin or GeoExpress.  I have the Plugin, and once you save and run it, you can just go to the site and click on the portion of the map you want to see.  If you have any questions, just post.  Oh, the pics uploaded funny, so go to the bottom one and you can scroll l-r.
Here's some pics I got:

                                                  Fort Mansfield, with submerged part clearly visible:


                                                  Dutch Island, 1939


                                                  Dutch Island, closer

[Megster]

I love those maps, I wish they would make it easier to view them like CT did with their 1934 aerial map.

http://mapserver.lib.uconn.edu/magic/adimg.37800.0000.1934.s12.Fairchild.1.htm (this link only works in IE...sometimes. lol)

[dudemcrude]

Damn!  Is there anything like this for Massachusetts?  I'd LOVE to be able to explore the areas I obsess about as they were 60+ years ago.

[zman]

Hi - great resource.  FYI the Ft Mansfield  photo doesn't show the destroyed battery (sunken) - it would be off the right side of the photo.  I think you were refering to the dark patch next to the wharf?

[Hazad626]

nice photo's man thanks for the links!

[Megster]

Interestingly enough the photos of Fort Mansfield on the edge of the 1934 CT aerial map would show all the bunkers prior the 1938 Hurricane, but that one section of the map is missing.  Figures.  You can see the rest of Fort Road and Napatree Point prior to destruction and the later 1939 RI aerials give you an idea of the destruction that storm brought.

Here's the new link for the CT aerials since the link I gave doesn't zoom anymore. http://www.econmap.com/magic/Map.aspx