WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL (1898)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

A visit to our website gets you started: http://www.americanphotocolorizing.com

The year is 1898. We’re a little late for Easter 2014, but it’s a fun photo nonetheless. This is the official Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. Just between us chickens – it sure looks like President William McKinley could have used a good landscaper. Ahhhhh, but look how dapper everyone is on this Easter Sunday, 116 years ago. They’re picture perfect . . . especially in full-color!

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION (1865)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

A visit to our website gets you started: http://www.americanphotocolorizing.com

The year is 1865. Originally named The United States National Museum, the Smithsonian is a community of nineteen museums, nine research centers, and a zoo, based in Washington, DC since it was established in 1846. The most important goal in colorizing the Smithsonian – was matching the color of “The Castle’s” outside walls. Built in 1847, The Castle still acts as the Smithsonian’s headquarters.

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.

ANACAPA HOTEL – VENTURA, CA (1898)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

A visit to our website gets you started: http://www.americanphotocolorizing.com

The year is 1898. Welcome to the Anacapa Hotel in Ventura, California – home of American Photo Colorizing.com. Enjoy it while you can. The hotel won’t be around in 2014. In fact the building was torn down during the Great Depression. Today, the corner of Main Street & Palm is a downtown parking lot – and for a number of years it boasted Top Hat – a hot dog shack the size of a photo booth. Top Hat is now in midtown, if you’re coming to Ventura for a day of surfing.

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.

MAIN STREET & PALM – NOT ALL THAT LONG AGO

CARNEGIE ART MUSEUM (1908)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

A visit to our website gets you started: http://www.americanphotocolorizing.com

The year is 1908. Today we’re featuring a photo taken at the corner of 5th and “C” Streets in the Southern California beach community of Oxnard. In 1908 the building on the right was the new Oxnard Public Library. Today, it is the beautiful Carnegie Art Museum. Just below our black & white and colorized images, you’ll find a photo of the same street corner 106 years later.

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.

THE SAME STREET CORNER IN 2014

GREETINGS FROM CALIFORNIA (1929)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

A visit to our website gets you started: http://www.americanphotocolorizing.com

The year is 1929. Here’s Main Street in beautiful downtown Ventura, California – which happens to be the hometown of American Photo Colorizing.com. This area of town looks pretty much as it does today – except the names on the stores are different, and the street traffic let’s you know you’re looking at a summer’s day 85 years ago.

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.

MARY CHESNUT (1860)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

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The year is 1860. Anyone who has watched Ken Jones’ “Civil War” documentary-miniseries, recalls the diary entries read by actress Julie Harris – of one “Mary Chesnut”. They usually went something like this: “My father was a South Carolina nullifier, Governor of the state at the time of nullification row, and then United States Senator; so I was of necessity a rebel born” . . . . . “Mary Chesnut”.

I often wondered who Mary Chesnut was. Now, of course, with the internet, accessing background on Mary is a simple feat. Mary’s husband, James Chesnut was a U.S. Senator from South Carolina prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. Folowing secession, James became an Aide to Jefferson Davis and a Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army. Mary, on the other hand, kept a simple diary – one that would win the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for History.

As Paul Harvey would say, “And now you know . . . the rest . . . of the story”.

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.

HAWAIIAN RAILROAD (1882)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

A visit to our website gets you started: http://www.americanphotocolorizing.com

The year is 1882. Hawaiian Railroad aka Kohala Railroad consisted of track that covered 20 miles near Kohala on the Hawaiian main island. rail cars transported tourists and sugar from nearby plantations.

Gallon upon gallon of fresh water needed to operate the steam engine, Kinau – had to be shipped from Honolulu, then transported by mule team from Mahukona port to the spot where the train refueled.

Though the route looks innocent enough in this photo – in fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more harrowing 20 miles of track. At various points, the 36-inch narrow gauge tracks were laid on bare lava, negotiated steep cliffs, and crossed deep gulches. There were sharp curves and trestles suspending the train up to 60 feet in the air. Despite achieving a top speed of only 12 miles per hour, taking a trip on the Kinau had to have been akin to riding Space Mountain or even Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at Disneyland.

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.

LINCOLN FUNERAL PROCESSION (1865)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

A visit to our website gets you started: http://www.americanphotocolorizing.com

The year is 1865. This is the Lincoln Funeral Procession winding down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. It’s April 19th – just 4 days after Abe passed away at a boarding house across from Ford’s Theatre.

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.

CLARA BOW IN “WINGS” (1927)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

A visit to our website gets you started: http://www.americanphotocolorizing.com

The year is 1927. Here is “It” Girl, Clara Bow in a scene from the World War I drama, “Wings”. Miss Bow was Paramount’s top star at the time – and “Wings” went on to win the very first Academy Award for Best Picture in 1929.

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.

LINCOLN CONSPIRATOR (1865)

Welcome to the American Photo Colorizing.com photo blog. We colorize black & white photos for museums, educators, media . . . and families like yours.

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The year is 1865. Lincoln assassination co-conspirator, Lewis Powell aka Lewis Payne awaits his fate aboard the monitor USS Saugus. At the same time Booth shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre, Payne’s was to kill Secretary of State William Seward at home. Payne succeeded in only wounding the secretary. He was one of four conspirators hanged on July 7, 1865.

At American Photo Colorizing, our goal is to shred the black & white veil that separates us from the exciting, vibrant lives of those who came before us. It’s time to “Go Color” with your vintage and antique family photos.