Well, isn't that spatial?

August 30, 2010 7:25 AM

The Spatial History Project at Stanford University creates striking visualizations of historical data, including an 1850 yellow fever epidemic in Rio de Janeiro, and prostitution arrests in Philadelphia in the teens.
posted by Horace Rumpole (7 comments total)

Interesting that both the 1850 epidemic and the prostitution arrests bear a striking resemblence to "Error 2032".
posted by DU at 7:55 AM on August 30, 2010

The sharp lines of segregation in the Philly prostitution data are what grabs me, mostly because it's really no different today except that street level prostitution goes down in different parts of the city, i.e., instead of working Center City the white girls work Kenzington Avenue while the black girls work Old York in North Central and 52nd Street near Westminster in West Philly. It's interesting to know that this facet of life in the city hasn't changed much since 1915.
posted by The Straightener at 8:02 AM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

I can only assume your browser contracted yellow fever from an infected prostitute, DU, because it works fine for me.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:04 AM on August 30, 2010

Great find Horace, this will be used!
posted by micklaw at 8:09 AM on August 30, 2010

My digital history dreams are starting to come true! Thanks Horace.
posted by Miko at 8:12 AM on August 30, 2010

Ooh, a visualization treasure trove! Thanks.

And they have an interesting piece called What is Spatial History?
posted by bjrn at 8:57 AM on August 30, 2010

Thank you so much, I love info graphics and these look good :)
posted by Librarygeek at 10:03 AM on August 30, 2010