Google Maps, known for its diverse functionalities, hides a fascinating feature: the ability to take a temporal journey to any location, through Street View mode. This allows users to witness changes to a street over the years.
However, there are some restrictions. It is not possible to go back beyond 2007, the year in which Google began making visual records (in Brazil, the oldest dates are generally 2010). Furthermore, not all streets have multiple registrations over time. In such cases, the function is disabled. It is important to mention that remote or difficult-to-access areas generally do not have Street View records. Still, it’s worth trying.
According to information from Estadão, here is how you can access Google Maps “time travel”:
In the Google Maps mobile app:
- Enter the address you want to explore;
- Activate “Street View” mode by tapping the miniaturized image in the bottom left corner, which has a “360º” rotating symbol. This will allow first-person viewing;
- In the tab below the screen, which displays the address, select “See more dates”;
- Choose the photos that correspond to the month and year you want to view.
From the Google Maps website:
- Enter the address and drag the yellow icon located in the bottom right corner to the point on the street you want to explore;
- In the dark block, below the address, in the top left corner, click on “See more dates”;
- Select the photos that correspond to the month and year you want to view in the bottom tab.
In the final step, you can change the viewing angle and focus on a specific building. The images will follow the change in angle, allowing you to visualize the transformations in the scenery over the years.
With this function, you can see what the streets and squares were like before major constructions or even remember a house or building before they were demolished.
