March 1862. "Manassas, Va. Orange & Alexandria Railroad wrecked by retreating Confederates." Wet plate glass negative by George N. Barnard. View full size.

May 1908. Union County, New Jersey. "Golf caddies at Baltusrol." 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size.

Volusia County, Florida, circa 1936. "Ruins of monastery, New Smyrna. Mission Atocuimi de Jororo." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size.

Leatherwood, Kentucky, 1964. "Boy covered by dirt smoking cigarette with one hand, holding can of tobacco in other." The tobacco-loving Cornett boys started early. Gedney Photographs Collection, Duke University. View full size.

Washington, D.C., early 1860s. "Treasury Department in Lincoln's time (Cash Room behind the desks)." At least two spectral presences here. Civil War glass negative collection, Library of Congress. View full size.

Ecorse, Michigan, 1904. "Steamer Detroit, Michigan Central Transfer, bow quarter, Great Lakes Engineering Works." For the finished product, click here; the launch is here, with still more views here and here. View full size.

Chicago circa 1910. "Grant Park and Blackstone Hotel on Michigan Avenue." Note the STUDEBAKER CARRIAGES sign. 8x10 glass negative. View full size.

Prince George's County, Maryland, circa 1921. "Balberg house, Hyattsville." The address looks to be 137. Bonus points if you can find the street. View full size.

Philadelphia City Hall ca. 1910. "Market St. west from 12th." An embarrassment of riches for you signage buffs. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1924. "Union Garage." The Union Building on G Street, first seen here three years ago. Peripheral points of interest include laundry sorting and 30-cent haircuts. National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Edwards boy." Shorpy fans will recognize here our equivalent of Judge Crater, Jimmy Hoffa and Amelia Earhart all rolled into one: An abiding mystery impervious to the curiosity of the multitude. Who was the Edwards boy? We don't know. And what is he doing here? View full size.

Montgomery County, Maryland, circa 1928. "Glen Echo Amusement Co." The Coaster Dips roller coaster at Glen Echo Park outside Washington, D.C. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Philadelphia circa 1906. "Hermit Lane Bridge on the Wissahickon." 5x7 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Long Island circa 1903. "The Bowery -- Rockaway, New York." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

October 1913. Austin, Texas. "Sunday morning. Paul Luna, 9-year-old newsie who is up at 4 a.m. Sundays." Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.