Google Earth Turns 20, Adds Time Travel with Historical Street View
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Google Earth, Google has introduced a major new feature: historical Street View imagery. Users can now scroll back through time and see how places around the world have changed over the decades, directly within Google Earth’s interface. The update adds a new toolbar option that lets people switch between current and past views at street level, offering a more immersive perspective on urban development and environmental transformation.
Google highlighted several suggested journeys through time, including the dramatic changes in Berlin from World War II through reunification, the rapid sprawl of Las Vegas since the 1980s, and the transformation of farmland into Houston’s NRG Stadium. Some users have even discovered personal moments captured in older imagery—such as family homes or glimpses of lost loved ones.
Alongside the historical view, Google also announced new AI-powered tools for urban planners in the U.S. These tools will offer insights on environmental data like tree coverage and land surface temperatures, powered by its Gemini AI. First launched in 2005, Google Earth continues to evolve, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge innovation.
