Union Square: Old and New

What a symbolic contrast!
Two years before the Gold Rush, in 1847, Jasper O'Farrell created a design for San Francisco, with Union Square as a public plaza. By the 1880s, it was a fashionable residential district, and in 1903, the towering monument was added, topped by the bronze goddess Victory, modeled after Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, known for her enormous influence in the San Francisco art community.
After the great earthquake of 1906, Union Square became San Francisco's premier shopping district, and, by the 1930s, the site of the world's first underground parking structure.
Now, in contrast to the dignity of the bronze Victory we have the casual presentation of the iPad billboard, another victory of sorts

[Terry]

great comparison shot. I would rather they stick with the one on the left.

[Kerri]

Cool collage

[Bill Dodsworth]

Wonderful city, pic!! Nice contrast old and new!

[Melissa Pike]

Great old vs. new shot! It's interesting to see how things evolve over time, isn't it?

[wendy chapman]

lovely photo of an interesting place

[Rick Schies]

An interesting contrast

[bruni]

I would always opt for the old. you nicely pointed out the diff. between the old and the new.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

Thanks for the history lesson. It made the contrast even more striking. Time and tide wait for no one. Both may be a tribute to the ingenuity of man, but somehow the Victory statue has more class. Great shot (s).

[Mrs. Smith]

Great perspective!

[Della]

amazing how things change--great idea for a picture :)

[Ellen E]

what a difference! thanks for the lesson!

[Phil Howcroft]

Hmm another thought provoking commentary from you Allison, great little collage :)

[Candace (cw24)]

Nice collage :)