Welcome to Photoarchive3D.org 
Photoarchive 3D is a digitized archive of original stereographic 19th and early 20th century historical images. When viewed by a single person looking through a binocular stereoscope, these reconstruct a scene in three dimensions, complete with depth, creating a “Victorian virtual reality.” Only a fraction of the millions of views produced have survived, and we here present a sampling of the broad range of available subjects including exotic locations, people of the world, historic events, and material aspects of life 100-150 years ago.
Upcoming Events
We do live projections in glorious 3D on big screens for organizations, museums, and schools. Topics are tailored to interests of the audience, drawn from our massive digital archive of 40,000 images. Come to one of our events, or look at the list of talks we have already presented.
A 3D “First Look” at Egypt by 19th Century Europeans
George L. Mutter
February 26, 2026, 5:30 pm – 7pm
Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East (6 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138), Rm 306
3D stereophotography of ancient Egyptian sites, installations, and objects first became practical in 1853-6. “Published” in large numbers, they transported viewers from their parlors to previously unseen worlds. Surviving examples are primary documents of early exhibitions, and a window into the perspective of western photographers catering to European and American interests. Freshly digitized stereophotographs selected from an archive of 35,000 original 19th century stereophotographs (www.Photoarchive3d.org) will recreate the experience of ancient Egypt exactly as seen by the public at the time. All images shown in digitally projected glorious 3D (3d glasses supplied). Sponsored by the New England Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE).
3D Digital Revival of 19th Century Egypt as Captured by Vintage Stereophotography
George L. Mutter
March 14, 2026,
U. of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK
Stereophotography brought ancient Egypt to Victorian England. Antiquities in their raw state at the British Museum contrasted with architectural and sculptural recreations at the Sydenham Crystal Palace. The remarkable 1850s stereophotographs of Egypt by Francis Frith were a resoundingly popular part of the Victorian imagination. When in 1862 Joseph Bonomi published a narrative to accompany 100 of Frith’s stereophotos, virtual travel was born. Today, high resolution digitization and distortion-free display brings out previously inaccessible detail of this window into ancient lands. Digital technologies now facilitate archival curation and public access, while improving the viewing experience for audiences of all sizes. Projected in 3D. Part of the Royal Photographic Society Historical Group Research Day.
