Old Photos for Antigua Guatemala has caught UNESCO’s Eye!

Celebrating our third Old Photo Event in Antigua (III Encuentro Fotos Antiguas de Antigua Guatemala Rescatando La Tradición Oral Antigüeña) has caught UNESCO’s eye!

I have always been fascinated by Antigua’s history! The city was the cultural, economic, religious and political center from 1543-1773 for the entire region when the capital was moved to Guatemala City. Old drawings began to bring the abandoned city to life. With access to fabulous photographic archives – WOW! Studying old photos has included reviewing the entire section on Antigua at CIRMA’s photographic archives with more than one million photographic images on file and, of course, encouraging residents to dig into their drawers to pull out old photos to preserve them and share their past.

The first photographer to visit Antigua was Edweard Muybridge in 1875. His collection is at Stanford University today. It was so amazing to see those very first photos! Others followed including the Japanese photographer, Juan Jose de Jesus Yas, and his nephew, Juan Domingo Noriega. Over the years, many photographers’ works have become part of our fascinating history.

Our friend, Pedro Berwian, established the Facebook page Fotos Antiguas de Antigua Guatemala a few years ago. He honored me as a participant from the beginning. Today we have more than 5,000 members and photos prior to 1977 keep arriving every day! While the soccer teams over the decades seem to be the big attraction, I enjoy old photos of the city’s monuments. With more than 30 churches, convents and monasteries, many of which remain in ruin today, it brings me great joy when yet one other old photo brings the city’s past to life today.