Gezicht op de verhoogde spoorlijn in New York 1870

George Gardner Rockwood created this stereograph, showing an elevated train in New York. This image captures a moment in the rapid urbanization of American cities. Consider the cultural and social implications of this new technology. Who had access to it? How did it change daily life and perceptions of distance? Rockwood, a white photographer, presents a seemingly neutral view of progress, yet we must consider whose stories are absent. Where are the working-class communities displaced by these developments? How does the elevated train impact different races and social classes? These questions invite a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in urban advancement. Reflect on the personal experiences of those who lived through these transformations, the excitement but also the disruption and displacement that accompanied them.