Blimps, burlesque and brass bands: America takes flight in photographs
A new Taschen book brings together 700 images from National Geographic’s archives to document a century of change in the United States. The collection spans subjects including airships, burlesque and brass bands, presenting photographs selected from the magazine’s historical records.
A new book from Taschen brings together 700 images from National Geographic’s archives in a visual record of change in the United States across a century.
The collection includes photographs connected with airships, burlesque and brass bands, reflecting the range of subjects presented in the book.
The book draws on National Geographic’s archive rather than documenting a single event. Its stated focus is a dramatic period of change in the US, presented through photographs gathered from the publication’s records.
The source identifies the publication as a Taschen book and dates the accompanying report to October 1, 2026. No further details about the book’s authors, publication date, locations represented, or individual photographs are provided.
THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND
Whose experiences are most visible in the archive, and whose are missing?
What editorial choices determined which 700 images entered the collection?
How might the book’s portrayal of change differ from the experiences of people outside National Geographic’s coverage?
What historical conditions shaped the magazine’s ability to photograph these subjects?
How would the account change if the archive included more images from the same period by local or independent photographers?
YOUR QUESTION
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GLOBAL CURIOSITY MAP · SEPTEMBER 2026