Where was this photo taken?
August 15, 2008 10:39 PM Subscribe
Do you know where this photo was taken?
As I was scanning pictures that were in my grandfather's possession (see previous question), I came across this photo which has thwarted any of my attempts to identify where it's from.
What's so weird about it? Well, there's the mural that seems to mix Asian and Latin American imagery (Buddha, Mary, and a Mayan pyramid?). Then there's the fountain/monument area. The statues definitely seem Asian and the explorer's names on the wall all were explorers of Central Asia and China, but all the names are in western script.
The photos were with some Philippine Pesos issued during the Japanese occupation, but I can't find any reference to this site in the Philippines.
Based on what I could decipher from some photo app magic, the names on the wall are:
Plano Carpini
Rubruquis
Marco Polo
Montecorvino
Marignolli
Could this possibly be a pre-Communist monument in China that has been since modified/destroyed?
As I was scanning pictures that were in my grandfather's possession (see previous question), I came across this photo which has thwarted any of my attempts to identify where it's from.
What's so weird about it? Well, there's the mural that seems to mix Asian and Latin American imagery (Buddha, Mary, and a Mayan pyramid?). Then there's the fountain/monument area. The statues definitely seem Asian and the explorer's names on the wall all were explorers of Central Asia and China, but all the names are in western script.
The photos were with some Philippine Pesos issued during the Japanese occupation, but I can't find any reference to this site in the Philippines.
Based on what I could decipher from some photo app magic, the names on the wall are:
Plano Carpini
Rubruquis
Marco Polo
Montecorvino
Marignolli
Could this possibly be a pre-Communist monument in China that has been since modified/destroyed?
Response by poster: That's a great guess! I hadn't considered that, but it couldn't certainly explain the apparent cultural mishmash in the scene.
posted by monkeymcgee at 11:04 PM on August 15, 2008
posted by monkeymcgee at 11:04 PM on August 15, 2008
Response by poster: Sorry--that should be "could certainly explain..."
posted by monkeymcgee at 11:04 PM on August 15, 2008
posted by monkeymcgee at 11:04 PM on August 15, 2008
Response by poster: parmanparman: You're my hero.
It looks like this is part of the "Court of the East" complex at the 1939-40 World's Fair in San Francisco (Treasure Island).
I found another view of a similar scene, on this site.
I'll post a follow-up if I can find a match of the area in my photo.
posted by monkeymcgee at 11:13 PM on August 15, 2008
It looks like this is part of the "Court of the East" complex at the 1939-40 World's Fair in San Francisco (Treasure Island).
I found another view of a similar scene, on this site.
I'll post a follow-up if I can find a match of the area in my photo.
posted by monkeymcgee at 11:13 PM on August 15, 2008
Response by poster: We have confirmation: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3
My photo was taken at the "Fountain of Western Waters" in the "Court of Pacifica"
posted by monkeymcgee at 11:30 PM on August 15, 2008
My photo was taken at the "Fountain of Western Waters" in the "Court of Pacifica"
posted by monkeymcgee at 11:30 PM on August 15, 2008
this is not an answer, i realize, but how the hell did you get that, parmanx2? were you there or something?
posted by Hat Maui at 5:26 AM on August 16, 2008
posted by Hat Maui at 5:26 AM on August 16, 2008
I am 28.
posted by parmanparman at 3:21 PM on August 16, 2008
posted by parmanparman at 3:21 PM on August 16, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by parmanparman at 10:58 PM on August 15, 2008 [1 favorite]