Viewing Location Details

Accessing Location Pages

There are multiple ways to open a location detail page, depending on how you're exploring the site.

Ways to Access Locations

• From the Map: Click any map marker, then click "View Full Details" in the popup.
• From Search Results: Click a location in search results to go directly to its page.
• From Nearby Locations: Use "Nearby" links on any location page to explore adjacent addresses.
• From Direct Links: Share links or bookmark favorite locations to access them directly.
• From Business Lists: Click location addresses in chronological business listings.

Page Header and Overview

The top of every location page shows essential information at a glance, giving you immediate context about the address.

Header Information

• Full Address: Complete street address with city and state.
• Building Name: If the location has a historical building name.
• Current Status: Whether the building still exists or has been demolished.
• Total Businesses: Count of how many businesses have operated there.
• Date Range: Earliest and most recent documented business dates.
• Quick Actions: Share, bookmark, or report buttons.

Business Timeline

The chronological business timeline is the heart of every location page. It shows every documented business that occupied the address, organized from oldest to newest.

Timeline Features

• Chronological Order: Businesses listed from earliest to most recent.
• Operating Dates: Opening and closing dates (or approximations).
• Business Type: Category or industry classification.
• Ownership Info: Owner names when available.
• Interesting Facts: Notable details, achievements, or historical context.
• Sources: Citations showing where information came from.

Each business entry is expandable—click to see additional details, photos specifically associated with that business, and comments about it. Some entries include links to external resources like newspaper archives or historical society records.

Photo Gallery

The photo gallery shows all images associated with a location, organized by date to help you see how the place changed over time.

Gallery Navigation

• Thumbnail Grid: Browse all photos at once in a responsive grid layout.
• Chronological Sort: Photos arranged from oldest to newest by default.
• Lightbox View: Click any photo to open it in full-screen viewer.
• Photo Details: Date, photographer credit, description, and context.
• Navigation Controls: Previous/next buttons to browse through images.
• Download Options: Save photos for personal use (where permitted).

Many photos include annotations highlighting specific architectural features or historical details. Hover over or tap annotation markers to learn more about what you're seeing in each image.

Community Comments

The comments section is where personal memories and community knowledge come together. Read stories from people who lived, worked, or shopped at these locations.

Comment Features

• Threaded Discussions: Reply to comments to create conversations.
• Upvoting: Helpful or interesting comments rise to the top.
• Time Period Tags: Comments tagged by which era they reference.
• Verification Status: Some comments include verified historical facts.
• Sort Options: View by newest, oldest, most helpful, or by time period.
• Add Your Own: Registered users can contribute their memories.

Comments often contain valuable information not found anywhere else—personal anecdotes, family stories, and firsthand accounts that bring historical data to life. Treat them as oral history records that complement the factual timeline.

Location Context

Understanding a location means knowing its neighborhood context. The location page includes information about the surrounding area and related places.

Contextual Information

• Neighborhood Map: Embedded mini-map showing the location's position.
• Nearby Locations: Links to adjacent and nearby historically significant addresses.
• Neighborhood History: Overview of how the area developed over time.
• Street View: Current Google Street View when available.
• Historical Maps: Overlay of historical maps showing the area in different eras.

This context helps you understand whether a location was part of a commercial district, residential area, or industrial zone, and how that may have changed over decades.

Additional Sections

Depending on the location, you might find additional specialized sections with unique information.

Optional Sections

• Architectural Details: Information about building style, architect, and construction.
• Historical Events: Significant events that occurred at the location.
• Notable People: Famous individuals connected to the address.
• Preservation Status: Whether the building is listed on historical registries.
• Related Collections: If the location is part of curated historical collections.
• Research Notes: Ongoing research questions or information gaps.

Sharing and Saving

Found something interesting? Location pages include several ways to share discoveries or save them for later.

Sharing Options

• Direct Link: Copy URL to share the exact location page.
• Social Media: Share to Facebook, Twitter, or other platforms.
• Email: Send location details via email.
• Embed: Embed location widget on your own website or blog.
• Bookmark: Save to your personal collection for future reference.
• Print View: Printer-friendly version of location information.

Contributing to Locations

See something missing? Every location page allows registered contributors to add information, correct errors, or upload photos.

How to Contribute

• Add Business: Submit businesses that aren't yet documented.
• Upload Photos: Share historical images of the location.
• Write Comments: Add your memories and stories.
• Suggest Edits: Propose corrections to existing information.
• Report Issues: Flag inaccurate or inappropriate content.

All contributions are reviewed by our verification team to ensure accuracy. You'll be credited for approved submissions, building your contributor profile.

Learn more in our Contributing Content Guide.

Mobile Location Pages

Location pages are fully optimized for mobile devices with a streamlined interface that prioritizes the most important information.

Mobile Optimizations

• Collapsible Sections: Tap headers to expand/collapse content sections.
• Swipeable Photos: Swipe through photo gallery with touch gestures.
• Quick Actions: Share and save buttons easily accessible.
• Responsive Timeline: Business timeline optimized for vertical scrolling.
• Touch-Friendly: All interactive elements sized for easy tapping.