Our FREE iOS app features archival photos, museum content, and programming from your favorite cultural institutions. Explore, share, and document your city’s changing landscape.
A NEW WAY TO
EXPLORE YOUR CITY
Who uses this?
Our iOS app is built for history buffs, urban explorers, and visiting tourists. It’s designed to be accessed anywhere, at any time, creating a new generation of “walkers in the city” who can appreciate, block by block, the buildings that they are passing, and the stories behind those structures.
FEATURES
Explore Nearby History
Discover thousands of historic sites and photographs.
Notifications
Push notifications remind you to look up when you’re near a historic site.
Recreate History
Tap the camera icon to create then and now photos. See some here.
Audio Guide
Listen to audio tours that enhance
your museum experience.
History Crush
Swipe right on your favorite historical photos.
Purchase Prints
Purchase prints directly from the app.
Search
Surface historic sites and facts with keyword search and advanced filtering.
Sharing
Share images and source links directly from Urban Archive.
User Feedback
Comment on content and send feedback directly to Urban Archive from the app.
WHAT OUR USERS ARE SAYING
“This app will open your eyes to a whole new NYC. I love seeing historical photographs and learning about the buildings that I walk by every day.”
- @katelynns322
IOS APP FAQ
What’s the difference between the Web App and the iOS app?
Our native mobile app is built for the Apple iPhone and includes a few additional immersive user features, including Audio Guides, History Crush, and Notifications.
Does the iOS app work offline?
The app stores some information offline, but for the best experience, it requires an internet connection.
Can users download high-res images from the iOS app?
No. We containerize all images in our app to keep users from downloading images and collection metadata directly.
Does Urban Archive monetize or share user data?
No. You can learn more about our data policy here.