To celebrate 20 years of Google Earth, the tech giant launched a groundbreaking update to Street View. Starting today, users can scroll back through historical imagery right inside the web version of Google Earth. You won’t need a VR headset or a DeLorean — just a browser and curiosity.
Users Can Now Travel Back in Time with New Google Earth Street View Update
Google revealed the new feature in a blog post on Tuesday. It allows users to explore how places looked over the past two decades. This includes urban development, environmental changes, and even the transformation of iconic landmarks.
“Imagine seeing your neighborhood before that skyscraper existed,” said a Google spokesperson. “This is not just a map — it’s a living memory.”
How It Works
Google Earth’s new feature integrates seamlessly into the familiar Street View interface. After clicking on a location, users can access a “Time” slider. This control lets them view available imagery from as far back as 2007, when Google first started capturing global Street View data.
Google collected this data using a fleet of Street View cars, trekker backpacks, and even camel-mounted cameras. The time slider doesn’t appear everywhere — only in places where Google captured multiple visits over the years.
Still, the scale is impressive. Over 220 billion images make up the Street View archive, Google confirmed.
Why This Matters
This feature isn’t just a fun gimmick. Researchers, journalists, and urban planners could use it to track change over time. It also holds immense value for preservationists and climate scientists monitoring erosion, deforestation, and infrastructure shifts.
Google has emphasized its mission to create the “world’s digital mirror.” With this latest update, the company gets one step closer.
A Brief History of Google Earth
Google Earth launched on June 28, 2005, evolving from a program called Keyhole, which Google acquired in 2004. Since then, the tool has become a visual encyclopedia of the planet.
Now, with 3D mapping, satellite layers, and interactive tools, it goes far beyond a simple globe.
This time-travel feature crowns years of innovation. It shows Google isn’t done pushing boundaries.
