Another visual tool has arrived that not only may help to get a “feel” for a community’s historic resources, but could be combined with other applications to provide for an intriguing online walking tour.

Almost two years ago, MyHometownOhio profiled the arrival of the “Bird‘s Eye View” on Windows Live Local, which provides photographs of communities from aircraft flying at very low level -- literally what a bird might see in flight.  A given scene may be viewed from up to four directions, thereby giving a real sense of place.

Now, Google has added a new tool to their well-known Google Maps application -- “Street View.”  Street View can be accessed by first looking at a community via a traditional Google Map (maps.google.com), then dragging the little yellow man icon on the left over the map on the right -- the areas which are covered by Street View appear with blue outlines.  By placing the icon in a desired location, an image appears of a street-level view.  Then, by clicking on arrows, it is literally possible to visually walk down the streets of a given downtown or neighborhood.

Just as with Bird’s Eye View, not all Ohio cities can be viewed in this fashion, and some have only partial coverage.  The “3C” communities are all included, as well as communities such as Delaware, Springfield, Bowling Green, Akron, Barberton, Marion, Chillicothe, Lancaster, Troy, Piqua, Sidney, Dayton, Marietta, and others.  Interestingly, many of the state highways in Southeast Ohio can also be seen with Street View.

It’s literally a slice of frozen time in the history of a given resource.  It is possible, for instance, to visually walk up and down the streets of the traditional neighborhood northwest of downtown Springfield now completely removed for construction of a large hospital complex.  Pictured above are two views of one of the best-known corners in Ohio architecture -- the corner of Ohio and Court Streets in downtown Sidney.  Pictured are the People’s Savings and Loan Association Bank (1917-8), designed by Louis Sullivan, and the grand Monumental Building (1877).

Photo: Ohio and Court Avenues, Sidney - via Google Maps Street View