Gezicht op het Hancock House te Boston before 1854

John Adams Whipple captured this view of the Hancock House in Boston using the daguerreotype process, a very early form of photography. Considered through a social lens, the image evokes questions about the politics of preservation and memory. The Hancock House, a symbol of colonial wealth and revolutionary spirit, stood as a physical reminder of America's founding ideals. Yet, around the time of this photograph, it was also the subject of intense debate. In 1863, against public outcry, the house was demolished. This photograph, then, becomes more than a simple depiction. It's a historical document loaded with the tensions between progress and preservation, public sentiment and institutional power. Was the demolition a necessary step forward, or a tragic loss of historical heritage? Historians rely on sources like letters, newspaper articles, and institutional records to understand the social forces that shaped such decisions. By examining these materials, we can better understand the complex relationship between art, history, and the ever-changing landscape of public memory.