• A color drawing looking down into a river valley. Ships dot the surface of the river, and buildings look like small specs along the river banks.
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    Early interest in the aerial view took the form of idealized sketches depicting how cities would look if viewed from above. In the 19th century, towns all across the U.S. commissioned "bird's-eye view" drawings like this one of Hannibal, Missouri.

  • A color drawing looking down into a river valley. Ships dot the surface of the river, and buildings look like small specs along the river banks.

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