In the early decades of photography, stereoscopy was a very popular technique for creating the illusion of depth in photos. These early "3D" images must have seemed like magic, and photographers wasted no time documenting the wonders of the day in this glorious new format. The boom in bridge-building technology provided the perfect subject.
The following twenty animated GIFs were all created from stereoscopic cards over a century old that show beautiful bridges from around the world, picked from the amazing collection of the Swedish Tekniska Museet. No need for special viewing instrument (stereoscope)—just sit back and enjoy the lively, almost three-dimensional view.
Brooklyn Bridge, c1883-1900.
Source: Tekniska museet
Brooklyn Bridge, over East River, New York, c1860-1880
Source: Tekniska museet
A walk on Brooklyn Bridge. Photo: Underwood & Underwood, 1904.
Source: Tekniska museet
View of Devils Bridge over the Schöllenen Gorge, Switzerland. Photo: Charnaux Freres & Co, c1860-1880.
Source: Tekniska museet
The bridge to Saint Sébastien over the river Loire in France, c1860-1880.
Source: Tekniska museet
The Clifton Suspension Bridge, in North Somerset, England, c1870-1890.
Source: Tekniska museet
The Clifton Suspension Bridge during construction, c1870-1890. The man with the high hat is possibly the architect Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Source: Tekniska museet
The Royal Albert Bridge over River Tamar between Plymouth and Saltash, England, c1870-1890.
Source: Tekniska museet
Bridge over river River Garry in Killiecrankie, Scotland, c1870-1890.
Source: Tekniska museet
The castle and bridge in Conway, North-Wales. Photo: Francis Bedford, c1870-1880.
Source: Tekniska museet
The Hungerford Bridge in London, c1870-1890.
Source: Tekniska museet
The Britannia Bridge (Pont Britannia), the bridge over Menai Strait in Wales. Photo: Francis Bedford, c1870-1890.
Source: Tekniska museet
The Menai Suspension Bridge between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales. Photo: Francis Bedford, c1870-1890.
Source: Tekniska museet
Bridge in Chamonix, France c1860-1880.
Source: Tekniska museet
The new Buspension Bridge by the Niagara Falls. Photo: Geo. E Curtis, c1860-1880.
Source: Tekniska museet
View from The Pyrenees with the bridge Pont Napoléon, near Luz-Saint-Sauveur, France. Photo: C. Lamy, c1860-1880.
Source: Tekniska museet
The High Bridge, NYC, c1860-1880.
Source: Tekniska museet
Rialto Bridge, Venice, c1870-1900.
Source: Tekniska museet
Bridges over the river Saône (Rhône), Lyon. Photo: Jean César Adolphe Neurdein, c1860-1867.
Source: Tekniska museet
The bridge to Sister Island, Niagara Falls. Photo: Geo. Baker, c1860-1890.
Source: Tekniska museet
Top animgif: Niagara Suspensior Bridge from Monteage House – Tekniska museet