Google Maps History

[griz]

Is there a way to look at the prior sat images in Google maps?  On a trip a couple weeks ago I discovered a house I used to live in is gone and the property is overgrown.  Coincidentally, my former neighbors house is also gone.
 Just curious as to when they were taken down.

[HankB]

On Google Earth there's usually a slider at the upper left of the image which offers access to historical imagery. As you go further back you'll often find both color and resolution degrade.

[griz]

I was just using Google maps, not earth.  Just tried Earth, which I assumed would be updated more often, but the image shown there still had both houses.  Maybe I'll try a map other than Google's.

[Tuco]

Depending how far back you need to go, the NRCS and USGS have historic aerials available for download.  These are big image files that might require some GIS chops to view, and they seem to get moved every few years so I don't have a current link.
Used to be called "National Map"

[Ben]

I was just using Google maps, not earth.  Just tried Earth, which I assumed would be updated more often, but the image shown there still had both houses.  Maybe I'll try a map other than Google's.

Google Earth is good at keeping a long history, but it can take several years to update current imagery. I know my own is from like 2021. For the most up to date imagery, try going to your county's tax assessor site and look for some version of "GIS maps" or "GIS services". It will have some area where you can input a parcel number or address and then pop it up on a satmap with the property lines. Those images are high resolution and usually updated every year or two.

[griz]

Thanks guys.  Even if I don't find the image I'm looking for I now have some useful tools to use.