Urban Archive is a technology nonprofit that promotes historical research and discovery.
Our mission is to extend the reach of cultural organizations by providing them with collaborative tools to share local history.
OUR MISSION
We strive to:
Promote access to collections by creating a centralized resource for educators, academics, and amateurs alike.
Encourage the study of local history by situating historical photography in context.
Facilitate interaction with historical collections via engaging mobile features.
Extend the reach of cultural institutions by introducing young and diverse audiences to historical content.
Extend collections beyond museum walls, encouraging engagement with the city itself.
We launched Urban Archive in 2016 as an experiment with the Museum of the City of New York, Brooklyn Historical Society, and New York Public Library. Our founding team set out to develop a digital experience for organizations that would breath new life into their archives and engage users in the history of their surroundings.
Our Story
We’ve mapped 91,273 images across 34,977 locations in three cities around the world, crafted 6,445 detailed posts, assembled 565 stories, and sent hundreds of New Yorkers on historical scavenger hunts in NYC.
We are a community of students, researchers, educators, and tourists who share a passion for learning and exploring.
Our platform is designed to get people excited about history in a way that aligns with how technology is used to consume content and navigate cities.
Our Community
We’ve partnered with museums and libraries in:
Interested in bringing Urban Archive to your city?
Partner cities
For the press
If you’re writing about Urban Archive, head this way to find background material, press contacts, and visual assets.