The following vintage pictures were taken between the late 19th century and the early 20th century. In the second photos you can see the same place in our times. All of the images are property of Kjeld Duits from Old photos of Japan.

There used to be farms at Negishi in Yokohama. This beautiful rural landscape was a short distance from the foreign settlement. Negishi was called Mississippi Bay by the foreigners, apparently this was coined by Commodore Perry whose flagship bore that name. They also called it “the most scenic spot in the world” and would come here to enjoy the fantastic view on the sea and the faraway cliffs at Honmoku. At the foot of the cliffs, local women and children combed for shellfish at low tide...

In the early 1080s, William - the one who conquered Harold, with an arrow in his eye - started to construct a huge stone tower at the centre of London. Nothing so grand had ever been seen before. And over time, it grew wven larger, as each succesive king and queen added to it.
William, Duke of Normandy invaded and defeated the English under King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Realising he must next secure England's most powerful city - London - he did not attack directly but first laid waste to the surrounding countryside. An advance guard went to London to construct a fortress and prepare for his triumphal entry into the city. After his coronation in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066, the new king withdrew to Barking in Essex, while several strongholds were made ready in the City to safeguard against the fierce population. Historical evidence makes us think that one of William's strongholds was in the south-east corner of the Londinium Roman city walls, on the site where the Tower of London was constructed. These early defences...

The discovery of Machu Picchu was actually the unintentional consequence of the search for Vilcabamba - a town established by the rebellious Inca Manco Capac II after Peru was invaded by the Spanish. From this town, the remaining Incas would attack the Spanish settlers in Cusco for the following 36 years. But in 1572, the Spanish invaded the troublesome settlement, and executed Manco Capac's successor ending the Incan dynasty. The location of this legendary settlement was forgotten - living on only in a few vague maps and clues left by future generations.
In 1909, 337 years after the last of the Incas was killed, Doctor Hiram Bingham from Yale University visited Peru and became fascinated by the legendary settlement and vowed to return in search of it. In 1911, he returned with seven others sponsored by Yale University and the National Geographic Society. In July, Bingham and his team set off on their explorative Inca trail trek and very quickly stumbled upon a settlement that they christened Patallacta (and sometimes called Llactapata).