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Washington, D.C., circa 1908. "South facade, new Union Station." At least five modes of transportation represented in this detailed view. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
The aforementioned dapper dude is dressed about 30 years ahead of his time.
both the dapper dude strolling across the street (lower right) and the plainclothes detective keeping an eye on the potential troublemaker behind him.
Back near the main entrance.
The near-eagle is keeping a sharp eye on the photographer. Pray or prey, or both?
Nothing "impossible" whatsoever about someone "checking out a hand held device" in 1908. Most sophisticates of the era carried them, often pulled them out to look at them, and sometimes held them up to their ears. They were called "pocket watches".
I believe the fifth mode is the Omnibus or autobus. I think there is one in the far distance, to the left.
1. Walking
2. Streetcar
3. Auto
4. Bicycle
5. Train (station)
6. Flying (eagles)
I see no train
The gentleman standing along the wall to the left seems to be striking an all too familiar pose for modern times - he appears to be checking out a hand held device. Of course this is impossible. Perhaps he's reading the back of the Honus Wagner baseball card that he just pulled from of his package of Old Judge cigarettes?
My tired old eyes can only find four modes represented: tram, bicycle, motorcar/truck, and Shank's mare. The edifice represents railway transport, but no locomotives or rolling stock are in evidence. I suspect that the fifth would be horse-drawn conveyances, which would have been more common than motorcars in 1908, but I cannot spy any.
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