Urban Scratch-Off
January 18, 2016 8:54 AM   Subscribe

Reveal How New York Has Changed With This 'Scratch-Off' Map

Urbanist and data visualization enthusiast Chris Whong created Urban Scratch Off, a simple site with two layers of maps—one from 1924 and one from today—that allows users to erase one layer to reveal the imagery beneath.
posted by poffin boffin (6 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
Tip: Zoom in first and then switch over to the scratch off feature. Pretty cool.
posted by Fizz at 8:59 AM on January 18, 2016


A little bit of naval history there in the 1924 aerial images. In the Brooklyn Navy Yard, there are two battleships tied up, what appears to be a Tennessee class at an outside pier, and a New York or Wyoming class inside. But if you at the building slips, you'll see the shape of two more -- and two larger -- battleships.

However, when these images were taken, they weren't building, they were being taken apart. Those were South Dakota (BB-49) and Indiana (BB-50) and during their construction, the Washington Naval Treaty was signed and one of the provisions was no more new construction. With limited exceptions, ships on the ways had to be scrapped.

And so they were. Records indicate that South Dakota completed scrapping in November of 1924. The big building ways wouldn't see another battleship until 1937, when North Carolina (BB-55) was laid down.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard closed in 1966, but most of the dry-docks and the footprint of the building ways are still visible.
posted by eriko at 10:06 AM on January 18, 2016 [7 favorites]


Ah. Maps.

From the post title, I assumed it was something competitive to do with bedbugs.

Because New York.
posted by Devonian at 10:47 AM on January 18, 2016


YES all the docks and boatyards were the most interesting part of this for me!
posted by poffin boffin at 12:12 PM on January 18, 2016


I think my favorite part was making Battery Park City appear
posted by damayanti at 1:52 PM on January 18, 2016


So many more docks and wharves in the past.
posted by Joe in Australia at 12:32 AM on January 19, 2016


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