This “Then & Now” image for #48 Jefferson Square blends a historic black-and-white photograph with a present-day color view, creating a striking look at how an urban park setting has changed over time. The modern scene shows a green, landscaped square with mature trees, a paved walkway, and nearby city buildings rising in the background.
In the historic portion, the square appears crowded with makeshift shelters and personal belongings, with people gathered among stacks of items and temporary structures. The contrast highlights a very different moment in the site’s past, when the open space functioned as a place of refuge and daily life rather than a quiet public lawn.
Together, the composite invites viewers to compare details across decades—street edges, tree lines, and the surrounding cityscape—while reflecting on the evolving role of public spaces. Explore this Jefferson Square photo to see how history can be read directly from the landscape, one layer at a time.